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Committee reviews MMSD-driven sewer rate increase; seeks clarification on connection charge
Summary
The committee reviewed an analysis using MMSD's cost-recovery procedures that produced a roughly 7% increase in quarterly residential sewer bills driven primarily by MMSD charges—most notably a large rise in the connection charge—and asked staff to request additional explanation from MMSD before recommending final rates to the council.
The Finance Committee reviewed a sanitary-sewer rate analysis based on the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District's (MMSD) cost-recovery procedures and asked staff to seek more information about a substantial increase in the MMSD connection charge.
Danielle explained the city used MMSD’s cost-recovery spreadsheet and that Franklin’s local portion of the charge fell about 2.19%, but MMSD’s volumetric and connection charges rose. “So the duplex user is not exactly double the single user because they’re just charged that the same connection charge is a residential user, but, the total annual charge roughly $309.19…with a quarterly residential billing of about $80 which is a 7% increase,” Danielle said. She reported the total MMSD-driven average residential charge at roughly $209.10 and an overall bill of about $309.19 for an average single-family residential user after local charges.
Nut graf: The committee did not adopt final rates at the meeting; members directed staff to contact MMSD for a clearer explanation of what drove the large jump in the connection charge and to return with details before finalizing rate recommendations.
Committee members asked whether MMSD charges are uniform across municipalities and whether the collection/connection charge calculation could be reclassified between fixed and variable components. Danielle agreed to follow up with MMSD and to report back to council as part of the final rate-setting process.
Ending: Staff will pursue clarification from MMSD and present the committee’s recommendation to the council once the agency explains the connection-charge drivers.
