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Water authority says amended FY26 budget covers debt; EQ tank upgrade pushed to ease infiltration
Summary
RCWSA presented an amended FY26 budget that projects a debt‑service coverage ratio of 1.57 (above the 1.15 loan requirement), shifted some capital projects into FY27 and said it will install an approximately 81,000‑gallon EQ tank to mitigate stormwater infiltration into the collection system.
Representatives of the Rappahannock County Water and Sewer Authority (RCWSA) briefed supervisors on the authority’s amended fiscal year 2026 budget and recent capital work. The authority said it adopted an amended FY26 budget that anticipates slightly higher revenue (reflecting a board decision to raise monthly EDU charges to $88 per EDU) and projects a debt service coverage ratio of about 1.57, above the 1.15 minimum under the loan terms.
RCWSA officials described capital adjustments driven by unforeseen storm damage and maintenance needs, including four sewer line replacements at the schoolhouse property and work related to the Estes Mill bridge. The authority deferred some pump and collection‑system improvements planned for FY26 into FY27 and added $20,000 for unexpected maintenance.
Board members asked whether users should anticipate further rate increases. Authority staff said the current increase is designed to cover the debt service incurred last year and that future EDU adjustments would largely reflect inflationary pressures or the need for additional collection‑system work, absent other funding sources.
On infiltration, RCWSA said that the current EQ tank (about 30,000 gallons) will be replaced with an ~81,000‑gallon tank to provide additional buffer capacity; staff said pursuing costly collection‑system repairs to stop infiltration entirely will require additional funding and was deferred for now.
Supervisors asked the authority to notify the board promptly if revenues fall short of debt obligations. The report was received; no formal county action was required at the meeting.
