WSSC Commissioners to Release FY2013 Budget for Public Hearing Purposes

[Howard Hartman]

WSSC Commissioners to Release FY2013
Budget for Public Hearing Purposes

$1.4 Billion Proposal Includes 7.5% Rate Increase

Laurel – December 16, 2011: The Commissioners of the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) voted Wednesday to release a Fiscal Year 2013 preliminary operating and capital budget of $1,457,925,000 for public comment at hearings scheduled for February 2012.

The preliminary proposed budget includes a 7.5% average rate increase in water and sewer rates, lower than the Spending Affordability guidelines of 8.5% set by both counties during the fall. The 7.5% increase would add approximately $4.86 per month to the bill of a customer who uses 210 gallons of water per day.

The budget would fund a number of improvements to WSSC’s aging water and sewer system including:

• The rehabilitation of 46 miles of water mains
• The rehabilitation of 55 miles of sewer mains
• The inspection and repair of 12 miles of Prestressed Concrete Cylinder Pipe (PCCP), including the installation of acoustic fiber optic cable for monitoring of the pipes’ condition
• Increased funding for the Sewer Lateral Inspection Program
• Funding for compliance with the Consent Decree

This proposed FY2013 budget reflects a change in strategic planning as it relates to budget preparation. The entire process will begin much earlier in order to better align strategic priorities with the budget.

“Our approach undoubtedly means better planning which will produce an organization that is better prepared to use ratepayer dollars to fund the right initiatives for our customers,” said Jerry N. Johnson, WSSC General Manager/CEO. “We will have more time to allocate resources and more projects that are shovel-ready. Our customers come first and this will ensure that the most pressing customer needs are funded year in and year out. And we start now with the Fiscal Year 2013 budget.”

The public hearing document will be available on January 13, 2012. Public hearings on the FY’13 preliminary proposed budget are scheduled for February 1, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. at the RMS Building in Largo and February 2, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. at the Stella B. Werner Office Building in Rockville. In case of inclement weather on either date, the public hearing will be held at 7:30 p.m. on February 8, 2012 in the Commission Auditorium at WSSC, 14501 Sweitzer Lane, Laurel, MD 20707

Written comments can be submitted electronically to BudgetGroup@wsscwater.com, or mailed to Ms. Sheila Cohen, Budget Group Leader, WSSC, 14501 Sweitzer Lane, Laurel, MD, 20707 until February 14, 2012.

The proposed budget must be submitted to both the Prince George’s and Montgomery County councils by March 1, 2012.