User rates for public water and sewer customers in Worcester County will be increased across the board for the new fiscal year – which still doesn’t help the county’s enterprise funds break even after falling into a deficit.
The Worcester County Board of Commissioners approved the new rates at its June 17 meeting. The rate changes are the direct result of seven of 11 wastewater districts falling into a deficit because they hadn’t been charging enough money from user fees to break even.
The new rates are effective July 1, but customers won’t be charged the updated fees on their bills until October.
County leaders only found out last year that the financial mismanagement had led to, at one point, a collective deficit topping $2 million. Each water-sewer district operates as its own account, separate from the county’s main fund, and is expected to break even.
According to Worcester County Enterprise Fund Controller Quinn Dittrich, the new water-sewer rates still don’t put the individual funds in a position to break even. He said via email that only Ocean Pines and Lighthouse Sound are operating at a surplus with their new rates.
It’s been a months-long process for county officials to wrap their heads around the problem and agree upon a solution.
The higher………….the better!!!