The Baltimore Service Committee voted to send a draft request for qualifications to council authorizing V3 to prepare an RFQ to identify a financial consultant to advise on financing options for planned water and sewer capital work.

The RFQ, which committee members asked V3 to draft, is intended to produce a high‑level financial overview and options — not a full rate study — so the village can position itself to finance roughly $5 million to $10 million in improvements without unduly burdening existing residents.

V3 representatives told the committee that the village faces “significant” capital needs tied to sewer improvements and growth. “Just the cost of the sewer improvements to get the sewer service out east, that could be a $4,000,000 project,” a V3 consultant said. The consultant recommended a targeted, roughly $25,000 study to benchmark the village’s utility finances, identify financing vehicles such as impact fees, JED or TIP districts and community authorities, and show options to spread costs between current residents, new customers and developers. “Ten years from now is gonna be too late,” the consultant added.

Committee members repeatedly emphasized the goal of minimizing cost shifts onto current residents. A council member said, “I just don't wanna put it on the people that live here now. It should be put on the developers. It should be put on the people that are gonna move here.”

Committee members agreed that V3 should prepare the RFQ and present candidate firms’ statements of qualifications to the village. V3 described a timeline of roughly a month to solicit statements of qualifications once given the green light; the committee asked staff to move the item to council for review so the RFQ can be issued.

The V3 presentation also covered near‑term work on drilling test wells: the village already has loan funding and plans to bid drilling for two test wells to confirm production capacity before converting them to production wells. Committee members were told test drilling will include short‑duration pump tests (24 hours or possibly one 72‑hour test) and that easements from property owners will be required before drilling.

The committee chair moved to send the RFQ authorization to council and the committee approved the referral by unanimous consent. The referral does not authorize hiring a financial adviser or spending money; it authorizes V3 to draft an RFQ for council consideration.

The next steps: staff will bring the RFQ to council for authorization to issue it, collect qualifications, interview firms and return to council with a recommended consultant and scope before any study contract or rate work is approved.