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Water and sanitary funds perform; staff cite accounting timing and rising utilities
Summary
Water and sanitary funds finished the quarter with sources exceeding uses and did not require reserve draws, though staff said accounting timing kept full rate increases from being realized and that utility bill payments made in 2026 raised contracts costs.
Keisha Kenny, the city’s director of water, told commissioners the water and sanitary funds performed as expected for the second quarter and that staff did not need to draw on cash balances despite some accounting timing that delayed realization of rate increases.
"We didn't realize our full rate increases. However, that was due to some accounting issues," Keisha said, adding that staff began paying previously delayed utility invoices this year and that contributed to higher contracts and materials spending. Hannah Meyer, the water financial officer, said water revenues were up about $2.5 million (7.4% year over year) driven by city customers and by revenues from other jurisdictions such as Montgomery County, Brookville and Trotwood.
On the sanitary side Hannah said revenues were modestly higher but 'other revenue' declined 46.3% because prior-year credits tied to an RNG project inflated 2025 totals. Staff stressed that filling vacancies raised personnel costs but reduced overtime; capital-equipment spending was cyclical based on replacement schedules. Keisha also noted regional lab testing services and new service connections as positive revenue developments.
In response to a commissioner question about the Cargill plant’s water usage, Keisha estimated the change could increase city-of-Dayton customer usage by roughly 10–13% and total system demand by about 6–8%, and she offered to provide specific budget-impact numbers to the commission.
