The Worcester County Commissioners voted unanimously March 18 to schedule a public hearing on proposed changes to county water and sewer enterprise funds and to publish a document online within the next week or two that explains how the proposed rate changes were calculated.

The commissioners’ decision follows a lengthy discussion about a $2.2 million operating deficit in the enterprise funds for fiscal 2026 and a previously made $9.2 million transfer from the general fund to cover prior deficits. Commissioner Bertino urged a mailed notice to all ratepayers; others argued a web posting and electronic link would be more economical for districts already facing deficits. Commissioners agreed the final document will be circulated to the seven commissioners for review before public posting.

Why it matters: the county’s 11 water and sewer service areas are operated as enterprise funds. County staff and commissioners said earlier decisions and uneven historical practices left some districts with larger deficits than others; the March 18 materials presented a single option for rate adjustment that would spread costs across service areas, prompting concerns that some districts could be asked to shoulder more than their proportional share.

Budget officer Kimberly Reynolds presented department figures and timeline for budget and hearings; enterprise fund staff described a process that would apportion recent and ongoing shortfalls across the service areas so systems can meet their operating and capital obligations. Commissioners and staff cited two figures repeatedly: an estimated $2.2 million shortfall anticipated in the FY2026 enterprise budgets and a prior $9.2 million transfer from the general fund that will require repayment or accounting in future years.

Commissioner Bertino framed the issue as a transparency and accountability problem, saying, "This government failed the ratepayers" in these service areas and urging the county to explain "why their rates are going up, and by how much." Several commissioners asked that the explanatory material include per-household impacts, the percentage change for each service area, and a line-item explanation showing whether increases would go to capital, operations, or debt service.

Commissioner Bunting and others emphasized the complexity of the county’s water and sewer systems and said the committee’s presentation was a starting point for public review rather than a final plan. The commissioners agreed to post the explanatory materials online and to allow commissioners to review the document before posting.

Formal action: the board voted to post a document that includes per-household rate increases and percentages by service area, a dollar-for-dollar explanation of what increases fund, and an explanation of the current $2.2 million deficit and the prior $9.2 million transfer. The motion carried unanimously.

What’s next: the enterprise fund public hearing will be scheduled as part of the board’s upcoming public meetings; staff said they will present more detailed, service-area-specific figures at the public hearing and in follow-up budget sessions.

Ending: Commissioners said they expect the public hearing and posted materials to prompt public comment and to inform subsequent decisions about whether to adjust rates, pursue consolidation options, or seek alternative funding strategies.