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Erie staff outline $34–$35 million five-year wastewater capital plan, tied to prior rate ordinance
Summary
Staff told council the 2026 budget includes a bond-funded five-year capital program for wastewater improvements estimated at $34–$35 million and pointed to a revenue ordinance adopted last year to raise rates to cover the debt service; no vote was taken.
Erie staff presented the public works portion of the proposed 2026 budget and emphasized a bond-backed five-year capital plan to upgrade the wastewater treatment plant.
“There's projected to be about 34 to $35,000,000 for those, improvements over the next 5 years,” said S3 during the revenue discussion, noting that a five-year revenue ordinance adopted in 2024 was designed to bring rates to the level needed to pay the bond. Staff said that ordinance was passed last year to match increased debt service for the additional capital borrowing.
Presenters described the budget for both the wastewater treatment and sewer maintenance divisions as combined in the materials (combined FTE 88.9) and said only small contractual increases appear in the operating lines for 2026. In the sewer maintenance division staff identified a roughly $12,000 increase in heat, light and power tied to utility overages through Oct. 31, 2025, and said FTE counts remain unchanged.
Councillors asked for clarifications on rate comparisons shown in a slide deck; staff said the city’s average quarterly sewer bill places Erie roughly in the middle of neighboring municipalities. Council members also revisited a prior tiering system for very large users that staff said was discontinued last year and served to reduce the magnitude of a single-year increase.
No formal motions or votes were taken during the presentation; staff said questions could be directed to department leads for follow-up before final budget adoption.
