What is on the November 4 Ballot?
The Sandpoint City Council has approved placing a Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) bond measure on the November 4, 2025, ballot. Voter approval of this measure would give the city authority to finance critical upgrades to its aging wastewater treatment plant, ensuring compliance with state and federal permits and protecting the waters of Pend Oreille.
This bond measure would allow the City to bond for $130 million in revenue bonds (repaid from sewer revenues, not property taxes) to finance improvements.
What a Yes or No Vote Means
Yes – Authorizes bond financing up to $130M, enabling the City to leverage outside loans and grants, phase responsibly, and spread costs over time. Rate increases are projected to be ~106% cumulative over five years, repaid over a long-term loan.
No – The project must still be built to comply with state and federal law. Without bond authority, costs are paid directly by ratepayers, resulting in ~600% cumulative increases within about five years.
Bond Disclosure Language
The interest rate anticipated on the proposed bond issue is 4.27% per annum. The total amount estimated to be repaid over the life of the bonds, based on the anticipated interest rate, is $257,285,000, consisting of $130,000,000 in principal and $127,285,000 of interest. The term of the bonds will not exceed forty (40) years from the date of issuance. The estimated average annual cost to the taxpayer on the proposed bond is a tax of $0 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, per year, based on current conditions. As of November 4, 2025, the total existing indebtedness of the City, including interest accrued, is $11,616,336.