Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Finance Collections topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Middletown utility reviews fund balance and collections as delinquencies rise
Summary
Board reviewed cash/cash-balance and collection reports; staff cited a recent collection of $164,807.17 and described outstanding receivables repeatedly as about $5,000,000, prompting discussion of whether rate changes or collection-policy changes are needed.
The Middletown Water and Sewer Authority reviewed its monthly fund balance and collection reports and discussed options to shore up the utility’s finances.
Director Joe Pizzino presented the cash-and-cash-balance figures and told the board staff would verify specific line items with the town finance office. He noted recent collections of $164,807.17 and — in multiple exchanges — referenced an outstanding receivables figure described in the meeting as about $5,000,000. Board members said they may need to consider rate adjustments, but emphasized careful communications and protections for customers facing hardship.
Chair pressed staff on data frequency and reporting cadence; directors discussed quarterly vs. semiannual reporting and how assessment timing interacts with fiscal-year schedules. Members stressed that while recovering owed revenue is important, aggressive shutoffs could create public-health concerns, so any policy or rate action should include strong hardship and communication protocols.
The board asked staff to keep providing monthly updates on collections, prepare comparisons with peer towns’ collection and shutoff practices, and return with options for balancing revenue recovery and customer protections.
