Hearing is Part of Ongoing FY 2019 Budget Discussions
A public hearing on Monday, Jan. 22 will give community members the opportunity to provide feedback about proposed water and sewer rates.
City staff detailed the proposed rates during a presentation to the Mayor and Council on Dec. 11. Under a three-year plan, the quarterly bill for a typical residential customer would increase by $15.77 in Fiscal Year 2019, $16.93 in FY 2020 and $17.96 in FY 2021.
Upcoming Fiscal Year 2019 Budget Calendar
Jan. 22 Water and Sewer Rate Public Hearing*
Feb. 26 Presentation of FY 2019 Proposed Budget
March 5 Mayor and Council Budget Work Session
March 19 Budget Public Hearing
April 9 Budget Public Hearing
April 13 Budget Public Record Closes
April 23 Mayor and Council Budget Work Session
May 14 Adoption of the FY 2019 Budget
*Rescheduled from Jan. 8.
The Mayor and Council approved a rate restructuring plan in 2015 to address deficits in the city’s water and sewer funds. While the plan has moved the funds in a positive direction, they continue to run deficits. The sewer fund is projected to fall short of its FY 2021 reserve target, predominantly due to increases in required operating and capital contributions to the Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment Facility. The proposed plan would restore reserves to recommended levels by the end of FY 2021 for the water fund and FY 2023 for the sewer fund.
Find details on the proposed rates, the consultant’s report and video of the consultant’s presentation with the Dec. 11 Mayor and Council agenda at www.rockvillemd.gov/AgendaCenter.
Anyone wishing to testify at the hearing should call 240-314-8280 before 4 p.m. Jan. 22 to have their names placed on the speakers’ list. The Mayor and Council will vote on the proposal as part of the budget process.
Visit www.rockvillemd.gov/budget to learn more about the budget process, and to use the city’s online survey to identify priorities for the operating budget and Capital Improvements Program for FY19, which begins July 1.
For more information, call the Finance Department at 240-314-8400.
This article was updated to reflect the rescheduled hearing date. The originally scheduled hearing was postponed due to inclement weather.