WASHINGTON SUBURBAN SANITARY COMMISSION 14501 Sweitzer Lane, Laurel, Maryland 20707-5902. (301) 206-8100. Fax:(301) 206-8186. E-Mail:communications@wsscwater.com

WSSC TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS ON
PROPOSED FY 2009
CAPITAL AND OPERATING BUDGET

LAUREL, MD (February 1, 2008): This year, the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) will conduct two public hearings on its proposed $1.01 billion Capital and Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2009. The hearings will be held Wednesday, February 6th at 7:30 p.m. at the Largo Government Center in Largo, Maryland, and Thursday, February 7th at 7:30 p.m. at the Stella B. Werner Office Building in Rockville, Maryland.

Based on input at both meetings, WSSC will prepare and transmit a proposed FY ‘09 budget to both County Executives by March 1, 2008. The County Councils will meet in a joint session in May to consider the Commission’s budget, which will become effective on July 1, 2008.

WSSC’s preliminary proposal targets its aging infrastructure and addresses increasing operational costs. Included in the budget is a 9.5% rate increase to pay for escalating prices for necessities such as power, chemicals and fuel. The rate increase will add approximately $4.47 per month to the average residential customer’s bill.

In addition to the rate increase, the proposal calls for the creation of a Ready to Serve Charge (Infrastructure Renewal Fee) dedicated to increasing water and sewer main replacement. The fee is a flat charge that would be based on a customer’s meter size and would remain the same for a ten-year period. Funds collected from the fee would be deposited into a separate fund that can only be used to pay for water and sewer infrastructure replacement. For the average residential customer, the fee proposed is equivalent to $20 per month.

To review WSSC’s budget proposal for FY’ 09, visit the Commission’s Web site at www.wsscwater.com and click on Fiscal Year ’09 Preliminary Budget under Hot Topics.

The hearings will be held:

In Prince George’s County:
Wednesday, February 6, 2008, at 7:30 p.m. in the Largo Government Center, Room 102, 9201 Basil Court, in Largo.


In Montgomery County:
Thursday, February 7, 2008, at 7:30 p.m. in the Stella B. Werner Building, 6th Floor Hearing Room, 100 Maryland Avenue, in Rockville.

If either hearing is rescheduled due to inclement weather, a public hearing will be held on February 13, 2008, at 3 p.m. in WSSC’s Richard G. Hocevar Building at 14501 Sweitzer Lane in Laurel.

If people wish to speak at one of the hearings, they should contact the WSSC Budget Group at (301) 206-8110 to be placed on the list of speakers.

If people are unable to attend one of the hearings and wish to submit comments for consideration, they can be sent to WSSC by February 19, 2008. Written comments should be mailed to: WSSC Budget Group, 14501 Sweitzer Lane, Laurel, MD, 20707 or via e-mail to WSSC’s Budget Group Leader Sheila Cohen at scohen@wsscwater.com.

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WSSC is the 8th largest water and wastewater utility in the nation, serving nearly 1.8 million residents in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties. We operate and maintain seven water and wastewater plants, nearly 5,500 miles of fresh water pipeline and more than 5,300 miles of sewer pipeline. In our 89-year history, we have never had a drinking water quality violation.