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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 01- <br />02 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 fiznded portions of the City of Eugene's <br />Wastewater Division budget. <br />The Capital Improvement Program (CIP) portion of the budget for FY 01-02 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 implementation of the Wet <br />Weather Flow Management Plan. Funds for capital projects that were initiated and budgeted in <br />FY 00-01 will be carried over into FY 01-02 as needed to support actual project schedules. <br />Other Capital Programs, including Major Rehabilitation and Equipment Replacement, also are <br />fully funded in the proposed FY 01-02 budget. <br />FY 01-02 marked the successful completion of the Commission's goal to manage the RWP for <br />five years with no rate increases. Over this time period, staff has instituted many changes to <br />improve the RWP's efficiency and effectiveness, which have enabled us to hold rates flat while <br />many operating costs have continually increased. During the past five years, average regional <br />monthly billings have actually declined from $8.78 to $8.13. Water conservation measures have <br />reduced average residential consumption from 5,800 gallons to 5,000 gallons per month. <br />Following its April 19th review and public hearing on the proposed FY 01-02 budget, the <br />Commission approved the proposed budget and also enacted a 5% regional sewer rate increase. <br />This adjustment is intended to position MWMC to achieve the goal of funding operations and <br />capital improvements over the next five years with stable rates. The new rate schedule results in <br />an average monthly billing of $8.53, an increase of $.40 based on 5,000 gallons of water <br />consumed by average residences. A Rate Stability Reserve has been established to accumulate <br />revenues in excess of the Commission's established Operating Reserve amount. These funds will <br />then be used to support increasing operating and capital requirements through FY OS-06. <br />Budget Highlights <br />i~ <br />• Staffing levels for the proposed budget remain stable with an overall decrease of .35 FTE. <br />The Eugene Wastewater Division will have a decrease of .4 FTE. This will result from the <br />reallocation of regional operations and Seasonal Industrial Waste (SIW) staffing. <br />Springfield Environmental Services Division staff dedicated to the RWP will increase by .OS <br />Page 1 FY 01-02 Budget <br />