Montgomery County Councilmembers unanimously voted to support Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission Water’s (WSSC) request to increase rates by 7%. The utility originally requested an 8% increase.
WSSC Water’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget is about $66 million greater than its Fiscal Year 2023 budget. The current budget is $864,606. The projected budget is $931,182.
The company provides water and sewer services to almost 2 million residents in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. The council will hold a meeting with Prince George’s council May 11 to finalize approval of the rate increase.
According to a report from WSSC, heat, light and power have increase by $8.56 million, and salaries also have increased.
Some of the larger increases include chemicals (up $9.9 million); paving (up $6.7 million); debt service costs (up $4.7 million); and new lead and copper rule requirements (up $3.4 million).
The utility has added 40 new positions, of which 31 are cost neutral.
