Lawmakers in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties have approved the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission’s nearly $1.5 billion budget for fiscal year 2021, which will include an average 6% rate hike for customers.
The WSSC budget was approved by the Montgomery County and Prince George’s County councils in a virtual meeting Thursday. WSSC said the budget will allow the commission to upgrade some of the aging infrastructure across both counties, and account for a projected $148 million loss in revenue during the current fiscal year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The commission also said it will ultimately make water and sewer bills more affordable, despite next year’s increase. One of the ways it says it’s doing so is by identifying potential leaks and other plumbing issues through technology called Advanced Metering Infrastructure, which is currently in the planning phase. The new infrastructure will ultimately lead to reduced bills, according to the utility.
“WSSC Water is on the front lines of this global health crisis and this budget invests in crucial projects to protect public health by ensuring we continue to fulfill our clean-water mission,” said WSSC Water General Manager and CEO Carla A. Reid in a statement.
“We’ve also increased funding to enhance our financial assistance programs and advance an innovative project designed to save our customers money,” she said. “I thank both county councils for their commitment to public health and water affordability in approving this budget.”
Click here to read the rest of the article written by Rob Woodfork over at WTOP