Montgomery and Prince George’s water utility commissioners remained deadlocked Wednesday after two votes split along county lines about how much how to increase water rates for residents.
The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission’s top brass says the aging pipes shared by the two counties are in desperate need of repair, pointing to a record number of breaks in 2007, and have recommended an infrastructure-renewal fee.
Commissioners from both counties agreed Wednesday that the pipes needed repair, but were unable to agree on how to fund the project. Montgomery commissioners unanimously supported and Prince George’s commissioners unanimously opposed a 9.5 percent rate increase plus fees that would range from $12 to $20 a month over 10 years.
Citing concern for lower-income families, Prince George’s commissioners countered with a 4.5 percent rate increase, less than even the 6.5 percent rate increase residents had this year, and no fees. Montgomery commissioners were all opposed.
Earlier in the week, Prince George’s commissioners suggested funding pipe replacement through a new tax linked to home value, but lawyers from the Maryland Attorney General’s Office said they did not think that was viable and commissioners did not vote on that Wednesday.
The meeting concluded with commissioners asking staff to tell them what the effects would be of approving rate increases of 6.5 percent and 8.5 percent, specifically how much money they would need to remove from the budget and what programs could not be funded.
WSSC staff told the commissioners they would need about $11 million in cuts to services with only a 6.5 percent rate increase.
WSSC General Manager Andy Brunhart decried “horse trading” over percentage points, which he said underscored the political nature of the discussion.
“What’s the validation behind passing around 4 percent, 6 percent or 8 percent? It’s not rooted in anything in terms of WSSC functions. This is a political discussion between the two counties,” Brunhart said.
Some Prince George’s residents who attended the meeting left shaking their heads, frustrated over the inability of the commissioners to compromise.
“It’s like you could put a bunch of kindergartners in a room and, math aside, they could come up with an agreement quicker,” Catherine Taggart-Ross, a county community activist, said.
The commissioners must submit a budget to both county councils by March 1 and are scheduled to meet tomorrow evening.
