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WPCA presents FY25–26 budget including sewer rate increase and capital planning; committee forwards for council approval
Summary
The Water Pollution Control Authority presented its fiscal year 2025–26 budget, citing a 4.4% sewer use charge increase, planned capital projects in response to DEEP, and debt service that includes Clean Water Fund loans; the committee approved and forwarded the budget to the full council.
NORWALK — At the April 10 Finance and Claims Committee meeting, Ralph Cole, WPCA supervisor and environmental engineer, and Nelia Bauer, wastewater system manager, presented the Water Pollution Control Authority’s fiscal year 2025–26 budget and highlighted major capital and operating drivers.
Cole said the WPCA is an enterprise fund that manages Norwalk’s collection system, pump stations and wastewater treatment plant. The WPCA board previously approved a 4.4% sewer use charge increase for the current fiscal cycle and the WPCA updates its financial model annually with consultant Woodard & Curran to reflect capital and operating needs, future bonding and board and finance department guidance.
Cole summarized recent capital work at the treatment plant, including solids facility studies, Headworks improvements and upgrades to return activated sludge pump controls. He said the WPCA submitted a collection system master plan update in September 2022 and a facility plan update to DEEP (CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection) in September 2023; the agency requested additional information, which the WPCA responded to in November 2024 in a letter.
On revenues and expenditures, Cole said the WPCA expects to receive nitrogen credits for 2024 revenues, receives a city reimbursement for support services, and incurs increased operations and maintenance costs tied to its Veolia operations contract. Debt service figures in the budget reflect a mix of bond schedules and Clean Water Fund loans, which carry lower interest rates for qualifying projects.
Committee members asked whether interest costs changed because of bond structuring or Clean Water Fund loans; staff said principal payments rose while interest declined based on the current debt schedule supplied by finance staff.
The committee voted unanimously to approve the WPCA budget and forwarded the item to the full council for final action on April 22, 2025.
