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Council approves $610,000 for wastewater plant core screen, citing $260,000 savings by combining work
Summary
After a public hearing, the Purcellville Town Council approved budget amendment BA 26-016 to appropriate $610,000 from wastewater reserves to replace core screens at the wastewater treatment plant, with staff saying installing them now saves an estimated $260,000 versus deferring to FY27.
The Purcellville Town Council voted Jan. 13 to approve budget amendment BA 26-016, appropriating $610,000 from wastewater fund reserves to add the core screen replacement to the current wastewater treatment plant screen project.
Andrea Broshkovich, presenting the staff recommendation, said the project was posted on the Commonwealth procurement board (EVA), three contractors attended the pre-bid meeting but only one bid was submitted. She said the town originally removed $750,000 from the FY26 budget to help balance the budget but that adding the core screen now as an additive bid item will save the town an estimated $260,000 compared with completing it as a standalone FY27 project.
"By including the core screen now, we not only avoid these risks but also achieve an estimated savings of $260,000 compared to postponing that work until FY’27," Broshkovich said during the presentation.
During public comment, residents said the work is overdue and urged approval; others raised concerns that using reserves would reduce wastewater fund policy coverage and urged restoring utility rates during the next budget cycle. Council member Stout and others said past reductions in water and wastewater rates had reduced revenues and left fewer funds to cover deferred projects; Stout noted the revenue reductions totaled roughly $668,000 and called approving the amendment a "no-brainer" given the savings.
A motion to suspend the rule against taking action the same night as a public hearing was made and seconded; council then approved BA 26-016 to appropriate $610,000 from wastewater fund reserves for the wastewater treatment plant screens replacement project in FY 2026.
Council discussed tracking reserve levels and asked staff for updated projections showing the impact after FY27 savings are accounted for. Several council members said they will press for sufficient utility revenue during the coming budget season to reduce reliance on reserves for CIP projects.
The staff presentation and the council's questions also noted procurement risks when only one bidder responds and staff confirmed references are checked and engineers review bids before award.
