New Search
Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission ~ Budget Message <br />BUDGET MESSAGE <br />METROPOLITAN WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT COMMISSION MEMBERS: <br />Introduction <br />Consistent with the Intergovernmental Agreement, I am presenting a proposed budget for FY 02- <br />03 that funds operations, administrative services, and capital projects planned for the Regional <br />Wastewater Program's (RWP) collection and treatment facilities. The administrative services <br />and capital projects components of the budget are reflected in the regionally funded portions of <br />the City of Springfield's Environmental Services Division, Public Works Administration and <br />Finance Department budgets. The operations, maintenance, equipment replacement, and major <br />rehabilitation components are reflected in the regionally funded portions of the City of Eugene's <br />Wastewater Division budget. The cities' Industrial Pretreatment Programs, managed in <br />compliance with the MWMC Model Ordinance, also are included in the RWP budget. <br />The Capital Improvement Program (CIP) portion of the budget for FY 02-03 includes funding <br />for design and construction of Awbrey Lane Poplar Farm, completion of the analytical laboratory <br />remodel at the Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF), and continued implementation of the <br />Wet Weather Flow Management Plan. Funds for each of these projects that were budgeted in <br />FY O 1-02 are being carried forward into FY 02-03 to support actual project schedules. New <br />Capital projects included in the FY 02-03 budget include installation of a digester gas filtration <br />system, sludge force main access vaults, and engineering for new water supply and ground water <br />quality improvements at the Biosolids Management Facility (BMF). Other Capital Programs, <br />including Major Rehabilitation and Equipment Replacement, also are fully funded in the <br />proposed FY 02-03 budget. <br />After maintaining stable regional user. rates for five years, the Commission adopted a 5% rate <br />increase in FY 01-02 with the objective of maintaining rate stability for the next five-year period: <br />The new rate results in an average residential billing of $8.53 per month, based on 5,000 gallons <br />of water consumption by average residences. However, due to a combination of aggressive <br />commerciaUindustrial water conservation programs, a downturn in the local economy, and a <br />continued downward trend of per capita water usage, these rates have not generated projected <br />revenue increases. FY 01-02 revenue shortfalls have been. offset by targeted expenditure <br />reductions and by decreasing budgeted contributions to reserves. <br />The proposed FY 02-03 budget can be funded at current user rates. However, as operating costs <br />increase, and new operational requirements associated with the new discharge permit <br />requirements, and new biosolids management facilities are added, the current rate may not <br />adequately fund the RWP beyond FY 02-03. <br />Budget Highlights <br />• With the closure of the Chiquita Cannery in Epgene, the FY 02-03 RWP budget will <br />incorporate the operational costs of the "Seasonal Industrial Waste" (SINN) site into the <br />-s regionally-funded residuals management program. The reduction in staffing needed to <br />~. <br />. Page 1 FY 02-03 Budget <br />jl <br />