Carroll County authority to advertise public hearing on staged water and sewer rate increases

Carroll County Public Service Authority members on May 19 voted to advertise a public hearing on proposed water and sewer rate increases after staff presented budget analyses showing significant shortfalls and rising operating costs.

The proposal would phase in increases over three years — beginning with a $4 increase to the minimum charge plus $1 per 1,000 gallons in year one, a similar second‑year adjustment and an additional minimum increase in year three — intended to generate roughly $715,000 in additional revenue over the three years, according to staff projections. "We're in a shortfall," Mike, a staff member who presented the budget, said as he walked members through revenue, expense and debt tables.

Why it matters: the authority is currently running deficits in both utility funds, and the gap affects required debt reserves and the ability to finance repairs. Staff told members the water fund is about $600,000 short and the sewer fund about $273,000 short on the proposed budget; restricted debt‑service reserves and recommended asset reserves also fall below required or recommended levels.

Staff presentation and findings Mike, a staff member, explained that the authority separated water and sewer accounting to show…