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Board approves two-year water and sewer rate study to update 2025–26 rates
Summary
Macomb Township awarded UFS a $35,985 contract for a two‑year financial projection to update water and sewer rates for fiscal years 2025–26 after a discussion of past studies, costs and infrastructure funding options.
Macomb Township — The Macomb Township Board of Trustees unanimously approved a contract on Jan. 22 to have UFS complete a two-year financial projection and rate update for the township’s water and sewer enterprise funds.
The board voted to award the work to UFS for $35,985. The contract covers a financial projection and rate recommendations for fiscal years 2025 and 2026; it does not duplicate the more detailed 2022 cost-of-service study, trustees said.
Public Works staff summarized the project history: UFS conducted an in-depth cost-of-service and connection-fee study in 2022. The township then implemented rate changes in July 2023 and July 2024; the new contract is a smaller-scale financial update intended to produce accurate, two-year rate projections without the cost of a full cost-of-service review.
A number of trustees asked about cost, frequency and accuracy. One trustee noted the earlier decision to move from annual studies to a two-year cycle saved the township “about $30,000” over multiple years, and staff said that a biennial study balances predictability with cost savings. Public Works staff also told the board that using a third-party firm helps ensure impartial forecasting and preserves in-house staff capacity.
The board discussed the larger funding context for water and sewer infrastructure, including the option to bond for capital work so that future residents share costs and to avoid emergency repairs from underfunding. “This is their expertise,” the presenter said of UFS, describing the benefit of hiring an outside specialist.
Motion by Treasurer (as recorded) and supported by Trustee Oliver to approve the two-year water and sewer rate study to UFS in the amount of $35,985. Members voted unanimously; the motion passed.
Ending: Trustees said they expect to rely on the study to set predictable rates that support long-term maintenance and capital planning for township water and sewer systems.
