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Board approves Massanutten Water & Sewer Authority rates, $30.7M reimbursement and initial FY26 budget
Summary
Following public hearings, the Board established Massanutten Water & Sewer Authority rates and connection fees, approved a $30.7 million reimbursement appropriation to be repaid by the Authority via debt issuance, and adopted an initial FY2026 operating budget for the Authority; votes were recorded 4–0–1 with Supervisor Wolfe‑Garrison abstaining.
The Rockingham County Board of Supervisors set new base and usage rates for the Massanutten Water & Sewer Authority (MWSA), approved a $30.7 million reimbursement that will be repaid by the Authority through debt issuance, and adopted the Authority’s FY2026 operating budget.
Assistant County Administrator Patricia D. Davidson reviewed proposed rate changes and explained that the County fronted $30.7 million on October 6, 2025, to finalize the acquisition of the system. County Attorney Thomas H. Miller clarified the financing approach: the County will issue debt and be reimbursed by the Authority, and Massanutten customers will pay debt service through rates. The Board held a public hearing during which residents raised questions about prior payments, connection‑fee calculations, rate class parity and operational staffing.
After discussion, the Board approved the rate schedule and connection fees as presented and established owner and renter deposit amounts. Key items recorded in the minutes include: base rates by meter size (for example 5/8" base water rate $18.00), per‑1,000‑gallon charges (residential water $18.00/1,000; residential wastewater $20.00/1,000), and a detailed connection‑fee table that ties connection size to water and wastewater fees. The Board also set owner and renter deposit amounts and connection‑fee schedules.
On a separate public hearing, the Board approved a supplemental appropriation of $30,700,000 to reimburse the General Fund for the earlier payment; that reimbursement is to be funded by a debt issuance planned for spring 2026 and repaid by users of the MWSA. The Board also adopted a new MWSA FY2026 operating budget in the amount of $2,199,693, which budgets estimated revenues (waterparks, residential and hospitality charges) and detailed operating expenditures for water distribution, treatment and wastewater treatment departments.
Votes on the rate setting and appropriations were recorded as 4–0–1, with Supervisor Sallie Wolfe‑Garrison abstaining (she attended virtually); the record lists CHANDLER – AYE; HENSLEY – AYE; LONGCOR – AYE; RITCHIE – AYE; WOLFE‑GARRISON – ABSTAIN. County Attorney Miller and Assistant County Administrator Davidson addressed questions about connections previously paid for by Great Eastern and explained that prior agreements remain contractual obligations from earlier expansions.
Next steps: the Authority will commence billing under the established rates (initial billing cycle to use manual readings while meters are replaced), pursue the planned debt issuance to reimburse the General Fund, and implement the adopted FY2026 budget.
