WSSC Submits Preliminary Budget for Fiscal Year 2010 for Public Review and Comment

[Howard Hartman]

WSSC Submits Preliminary Budget for Fiscal
Year 2010 for Public Review and Comment

Public Hearing in Montgomery County Set for February 5th

LAUREL, MD, JANUARY 15: The Commissioners of the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) today submitted to Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties for public review and comment a preliminary budget for Fiscal Year 2010 that addresses increasing operational costs.

The Commission is proposing a $929.3 million Capital and Operating Budget for FY ’10. Included in the proposal is a 9% rate increase to pay for escalating prices for operational necessities, such as power, chemicals and materials, as well as to provide funding for proactive inspection and repair of our aging infrastructure. The rate increase will add approximately $4.47 per month to the average residential customer’s bill.

"The state of WSSC’s infrastructure remains a significant concern," said Teresa D. Daniell, WSSC Interim General Manager. "We continue to work with stakeholders in both counties to develop a long-term funding solution to meet our infrastructure needs."

"In the interim," Daniell continued, "this budget includes some additional rate-supported funding for the water and sewer reconstruction programs, as well as some inspection and repair of critical infrastructure. But this funding is far from the amount that is needed for sustainable infrastructure renewal projects such as replacing water mains."

The budget proposal published for public comment today will be reviewed and voted on by the Commission after conducting two public hearings. The hearings have been set for February to allow the public to comment on the proposal.

In Montgomery County:

February 5, 2009 - 7:30 p.m.
Stella B. Werner Building
7th Floor Council Hearing Room
100 Maryland Avenue
Rockville, MD
Remind Me   Map

If the hearing is canceled because of inclement weather, an additional hearing will be held at 3 p.m., February 11, 2009 at the WSSC RGH Building, 14501 Sweitzer Lane, Laurel.

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