Baltimore Village flags $53,000 water-fund shortfall; council asks staff for prioritized repairs and meter replacements

Baltimore Village council members and staff reviewed the village’s proposed budget and identified a $53,000 shortfall in the water fund, driven largely by engineering costs for the Elmwood–Jefferson project and uncollected water from failing meters.

The village’s finance staff reported total cash of about $1,990,177.47 and outstanding checks of $11,008.20, and noted $289,306.20 in checks written last month. The water fund was shown “in the red” by roughly $53,000 after staff added an estimated $120,000 in engineering fees for the Elmwood–Jefferson water and street project. Staff said the village applies a 60%/40% split (60% water, 40% streets) to engineering costs and that the water share of those engineering costs was the item pushing the fund into deficit.

“This map shows the older mains — many are 4-inch and 6-inch lines — and several are failing,” Matt, the village…