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Allegany County utilities propose modest water and sewer rate increases; Cumberland purchase price drives local changes
Summary
County utilities staff proposed a fiscal-year 2026 utility budget that would raise average combined water and sewer bills about 5.1% overall, driven in part by a 20% wholesale water price increase from the City of Cumberland for some districts. The sanitary budget is projected to be neutral; capital needs would be covered from water-side funds.
County utilities staff presented proposed water and sewer rates for fiscal year 2026 and explained the drivers behind a recommended modest overall increase. The utilities presentation showed an average combined increase of about 5.1% (water + sewer), with district-level variation tied to wholesale purchase increases and debt-service retirements.
Utilities engineer Bryn Lair and the utilities presenter (Mister Patterson) told the board that the county—s long-standing goal is for water and sewer budgets to be self-supporting. Under the recommended FY26 plan, the sanitary (sewer) budget would be neutral and capital spending for sewer would be…
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