Copyright Hartford Courant
The water supply and sewer service that has eight area member towns is proposing a budget for 2026 that contains a $14.5 million increase, records show. The Metropolitan District’s proposed budget for 2026 is a total of $241.3 million, a 6.4% increase from the prior year’s appropriation, according to the non-profit municipal corporation. A spokesman for the MDC declined comment on the proposed budget. The proposed budget will “support the District’s operations and programs,” according to MDC documents. A public hearing on the proposal, 2026 Budget, Rates and Ordinance Revisions is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Nov. 12 at the Metropolitan District Board Room, 555 Main St., Hartford. Regarding water revenues for 2026, the MDC proposal reports, for the sale of water, a revenue increase of $1.4 million is primarily “attributed to the rise in the customer service charge and general surcharges, each of which has increased by $0.75.” The water rate remains unchanged at $3.91, the MDC proposal says. Total water revenue in the proposal (called Water Utility revenues budget) is $126,784,825; total sewer revenue is $114,526,565, an increase of $7,503,422 or 7.0% compared to last year’s appropriation. The MDC defines sale of water as including customer service charge, general surcharge, and water use charge. The category includes revenue from sale of treated water to “domestic (single and multi-family dwellings and apartments); commercial (places of business and commerce); industrial (manufacturing and materials handling firms); and public authorities (municipalities, agencies of the state or federal government, and municipal housing authorities). Additionally, revenue from the sale of treated and untreated water to other water companies, as per a series of agreements with the District, is also included in this category.” The proposal notes the MDC number of authorized operating positions in the district is 395. With regard to some other operating revenues, the MDC proposal reports an increase of $3.05 million. “primarily a result of increased hydrant maintenance fees and fire protection service.” The proposal also indicates, regarding non-operating revenues, a reduction of $668,450 that is “indicative of the effort to align budgeted revenues more closely with historical performance.” In the class of contributions from other funds, the MDC proposal reports that the amount has “risen by $4,091,498, including $2,879,313 from fund balance and $2,216,933 from bond premiums. This increase is partly offset by a $1,004,748 decrease in contributions from the Internal Service Fund.” Other operating revenues “consist of Hydrant Maintenance charges associated with privately and publicly-owned hydrants; Fire Protection Service charges for connections to water mains supplying water for Private Fire Protection; Penalties on past due water bills; and Cross Connections/Backwater Fee for minor or incidental services and materials provided by the District,” according to the MDC. On water revenue for the 2026 budget, the MDC proposal says there is an increase of $7 million, or 5.9% above the prior year’s “appropriation.” Also, per the MDC, among expenses: Debt: Increased by $5,122,651 or 11.3% in the 2026 budget “as a result of bonding activity.” Payroll: A net increase of $1.4 million or 3.1% above the prior year “reflects increment and cost of living increases for eligible employees and an increase in employee related benefits.” Software as a Service: The increase of $675,000, or 71.2% above the prior year, “reflects SaaS agreements that are now required to be included in the operations budget in accordance with GASB 96.” General Operations: An increase of $377,153 or 5.2% above the prior year’s appropriation. Utilities: Increasing by $201,750 or 9.7% to “reflect anticipated spend in 2026.” Insurance: A $170,489 or 12.7% increase reflects current market rates. Outside & Consultant Services: Decreasing $112,840 or 3.9% below the prior year’s appropriation. Special Agreements & Programs: Decrease by $800,000 or 32.3% below the prior year’s appropriation, “primarily driven by a reduction in the Army Corps of Engineers – Contingency.” What the MDC wants you to know about lead and water systems. And why. Regarding the proposed operating budget summary for sewers, the MDC reports an increase of $7,503,422, or 7.0%, above the prior year’s appropriation. This includes, per the MDC: Tax on Member Municipalities: Unchanged from the prior year’s appropriation. Each member municipality “pays a proportionate share of the tax based on the total revenue from property taxation, as averaged over the previous three years.” Other Government Agencies: An increase of $666,977, or 4.0% is a result of “increased activity in Sludge Services, offset by a decrease in Liquid Waste Discharge.” Other Sewer Revenues: An overall increase of $4,600,204, or 33.4% is “primarily driven by the rise in Sewer Customer Service Charge, Rebates & Reimbursements, RRB- Contracts, Bill Jobs, and Sale Of Material & Equipment, offset by a decrease in RRB-Labor ST, Collections & Liens, and Vendor Discount Revenue.” Sewer User Charges: An increase of $1,837,332 or 12.6% is primarily driven by High Flow Users (Net of Reserves), User Charges: Tax Exempt, and Late Payment Charges. The sewer user rate will remain unchanged at $5.90 per CCF for 2026. Contributions from Other Funds: A net increase of $398,909 or 5.6% is anticipated to support sewer operations. On sewer expenditures for the proposed 2026 budget, all per the MDC: Sewer: Increase of $7,503,422, or 7.0% above the prior year’s appropriation. Debt: An increase of $2,793,612, or 6.6% driven by anticipated bond activity. Utilities: Are increasing by $1,625,150, or 17.7% to reflect the current market. Payroll Related: An overall increase of $1,084,798 or 3.1% above the prior year “is driven by raises and cost-of-living adjustments for eligible employees and an increase in employee-related benefits.” General Operations: An overall increase of $673,627, or 12.1% in various allotments compared to the previous year’s adopted levels. The MDC provides water supply, water pollution control, mapping, and household hazardous waste collection to eight member municipalities: Bloomfield, East Hartford, Hartford, Newington, Rocky Hill, West Hartford, Wethersfield and Windsor. Also, the MDC provides drinking water to portions of Farmington, Glastonbury, East Granby and South Windsor, known as the MDC’s non-member towns.
