Oroville Council Pushes for Bond-Funded Water System
After years of fiscal hesitation, the City Council moves to finance a new water pumping station and reservoir to support the town’s growing population.
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The City Council meeting last Thursday marked a turn toward civic progress. The council instructed the city attorney to draft an ordinance for a bond issue to fund a complete city water system, including a pumping station and reservoir on high ground. While the council has historically been conservative regarding public debt, they have realized that public utilities cannot be conjured out of an empty treasury. The ordinance will be submitted to the voters for ratification. Additionally, the council appointed a committee to explore the construction of a city hall, and held informal discussions regarding the city owning its own lighting system.
“Public utilities cannot be conjured out of an empty treasury.”
Infrastructure funding remains the primary challenge for growing rural Washington towns. Like the 1909 council, modern Oroville officials must weigh the burden of municipal bonds against the necessity of building utilities that allow a town to thrive.
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