Prince George's County Council on Oct. 28 adopted CR 135, establishing spending affordability limits for the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) for fiscal year 2027. The council amended the resolution to set the limit at 5 percent and then adopted the resolution as amended. Both the amendment and the final adoption passed by recorded votes of 9‑0.

County staff told the council that WSSC had presented options to county and Montgomery County representatives, including a base case modeled at a 6 percent revenue increase and a scenario at 7 percent. Staff noted the county executive had recommended a 5 percent limit. That overview was read into the record by staff during the WSSC briefing to the council.

Council members debated the measure’s fiscal tradeoffs during the meeting. Several members said they were mindful of the pressure that higher utility rates can create for county residents but also noted the need to invest in water and sewer infrastructure. After discussion, the council moved to amend the resolution to adopt a 5 percent spending‑control limit — the county executive’s recommendation — and recorded a unanimous 9‑0 vote on the amendment. The council then suspended the rules and proceeded to adopt CR 135 as amended; a subsequent recorded vote also was 9‑0.

The motions were moved and seconded on the record (the amendment motion was recorded as moved by Council member Moriata and seconded by Council member Blaguet). Council member Olson stated he voted aye while noting the tensions between affordability and the need for infrastructure investment. Vice Chair Orietta and other members also recorded aye votes; the clerk announced both motions carried 9‑0.

CR 135 sets county spending control limits that apply to WSSC’s fiscal‑year 2027 water and sewer operations and capital budget requests when the commission presents budgets to the county. The resolution aligns Prince George’s County with the interjurisdictional process used by Montgomery County and WSSC staff in developing budget scenarios.

County staff and WSSC representatives said Montgomery County was taking concurrent action on a related measure and that WSSC’s presentation to the county’s TIE committee had occurred on Oct. 9. The council’s adopted 5 percent limit reflects the county executive’s recommendation and will inform the county’s formal spending‑control position for interjurisdictional budget discussions with WSSC.