Township staff told the Public Services Commission the water and sewer asset-management plan projects about $30 million of capital needs over the next 25 years and that existing rate structure and bonding capacity provide approximately $16 million toward that total — leaving an estimated shortfall of about $14 million.

Derek, township manager, summarized the figures and said the estimate reflects asset-replacement priorities in the plan. "Maria did put together kind of a funding plan... we're going to have to more than likely have a combination of financing improvements with, you know, cash and bonding," he said, explaining the gap between projected needs and available capacity.

Staff described next steps as an extended planning conversation. Options include staged rate increases, additional bonding (which would increase debt service), targeted pursuit of grants, or reprioritizing the asset list. Commissioners asked staff to return with pro forma scenarios showing how various rate changes, grant assumptions and bonding strategies would affect the township's ability to fund the plan.

The commission asked staff to prepare information for study sessions, including (1) immediate priorities, (2) the debt-service schedule and its effect on future capacity, and (3) projected rate adjustments tied to possible funding scenarios.

No immediate policy changes were adopted; staff said they will prepare projections and coordinate with the finance director and commission for follow-up study sessions.