Budget request in front of sewer committee

A look at the request for a new budget to run Oconee’s wastewater system is in front of a committee of the Joint Regional Sewer Authority.  The documents for the JRSA’s finance and administration committee this afternoon project revenues over expenses of only a few thousand dollars.  Yet the fiscal year 2023 shapes up as a year to realize new revenues from a January decision to increase the treatment charge to the three municipal members by 20% across-the-board.  That rate increase is projected to bring in an additional $5 million with which to pay operational costs.  The budget request takes into an account a state directive to correct issues identified by the JRSA’s outside engineers who’ve assessed the DHEC consent order.  First priority is to be $215 thousand to replace a 15-inch clay pipe serving Westminster.