The Capital Region Water finance and senior leadership teams have been hard at work creating and revising a fiscal plan for 2023 — one that balances ongoing investment in critical infrastructure upgrades against the financial constraints of many of our customers.
“Various factors drive rates and spending at CRW. Regulatory agreements, such as the Modification to the Partial Consent Decree, require significant and costly upgrades as does the absolute necessity of providing clean, safe drinking water and protecting local waterways,” said Capital Region Water CEO Charlotte Katzenmoyer. “The budget proposal process is an important step as affordability is a limiting factor among our customers. It’s a testament to our leadership that we’ve been able to keep rates predictable.”
Capital Region Water consistently makes prudent financial decisions, seeking out non-rate revenue streams and striving to offset costs through state and federal grant programs and low-interest loans. These opportunities provide direct cost savings to customers.
Capital Region Water will present proposed 2023 drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater budgets and rates to the Board of Directors for consideration during a public meeting beginning at 5 p.m. today, Tuesday, November 22, 2022.
The 2023 proposed budget priorities and initiatives include:
- Investment in critical infrastructure for the drinking water system and wastewater system, as well as green stormwater infrastructure improvements
- Implementation of the 10-year project list as negotiated with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to improve local water quality
- Optimization of the customer experience through assistance and incentive programs
- Implementation of best practices to comply with Lead and Copper Rule Revisions requirements
As a municipal authority, Capital Region Water does not earn a profit and invests its revenue into operating and improving the Harrisburg area’s water systems.
Capital Region Water customers are encouraged to attend the Regular Board meeting tonight and provide comments. Meeting details can be found at https://capitalregionwater.com/board-meetings/. The Board of Directors is scheduled to approve 2023 budgets and rates at a Special Meeting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.