Budgets
Overview
MSD needs to balance its budget, just like everyone else. We begin this process every summer and complete it by November or December for the coming year.
We have two budgets:
- Operating Budget - funding needed to support MSD's operation of more than 3,000 miles of public sewers and interceptors, 100 pump stations, 9 wastewater treatment plants, 9 wet weather facilities, and the Lick Run Greenway in South Fairmount. The Operating budget includes personnel costs and non-personnel costs such as equipment and tools, chemicals, fuel, electricity, natural gas, and fleet vehicles. It also includes debt service, which is the repayment of debt (principal and interest payments) on bonds and loans used to fund Capital Improvement Program (CIP) projects. Our Operating budget is funded through customer sewer bills.
- Capital Budget - funding for capital items like new sewers, upgrades to treatment plants, and other assets. The budget also includes wet weather projects mandated by our Wet Weather Program to reduce sewer overflows into local streams and rivers. Our capital budget is funded through bonds, low-interest loans through the Ohio Water Development Authority, and cash.
The Hamilton County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) is responsible for approving MSD's budgets and setting rates. As part of the process, MSD typically proposes budgets to the BoCC in August followed by meetings over the next several months to finetune the proposals. The BoCC hosts a public hearing(s) in November or December prior to final approval of the budgets.
Public Hearings for MSD's Proposed 2026 Budgets and Sewer Rates
The BoCC will conduct public hearings to consider MSD's proposed 2026 Operating Budget, proposed 2026 Capital Budget and 2026 – 2030 Capital Improvement Program (CIP), and revised sewer rates:
- 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, in Room 603 in the Office of the Board of County Commissioners of Hamilton County, Ohio, Todd B. Portune Center for County Government, 138 E. Court Street, Cincinnati, OH (45202)
- 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at the Hamilton County Board of Elections, 4700 Smith Road, Norwood, OH (45212)
For virtual participation in the public hearings, please review the information on the Commissioners Meetings website
The public can also send comments:
- Online through Hamilton County's electronic public hearing website
- In writing to Leslie Hervey, Clerk of the Board, Todd B. Portune Center for County Government, 138 E. Court Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.
Proposed 2026 Operating Budget
MSD's proposed 2026 Operating Budget is $255.9 million.
The proposed budget includes:
- $74.6 million for personnel
- $77.3 million for non-personnel (e.g., chemicals, equipment)
- $6.9 million for General Fund Overhead (GFOH), fleet vehicles, and Office Technology Equipment Allowance (OTEA)
- $8.2 million for the Sewer Backup (SBU) Program (non-personnel)
- $89 million for debt payment
VIEW THE PROPOSED 2026 OPERATING BUDGET
Proposed 2026 Capital Budget
MSD's proposed 2026 Capital Budget is $153.6 million.
The proposed budget includes:
- $69.2 million for construction of 12 projects, including the East Branch Ohio River Interceptor Extension & CSO 489 and 432 Separation project in Queensgate and the Barrington Hills Pump Station Eliminations project in Green Township.
- $44.2 million for five allowances: Critical Asset Management, Main Sewer Renewal Program, Manhole Renewal Program Prioritized Wastewater Collection System Asset Management, and Programmatic Contingency.
- $40.2 million for planning, design, and easement acquisitions for 10 projects, including the Little Miami WWTP High-Rate Treatment Facility in Columbia-Tusculum/East End, and eight allowances including Hamilton County utility oversight, HSTS eliminations, and MSD labor.
View the proposed 2026 Capital Budget and 2026-2030 Capital Improvement Program (CIP)
Proposed 2026 Sewer Rate Increase
A 4.5% increase in revenue is recommended to support the proposed 2026 operating and CIP budgets. As a result, we're proposing to adjust the commodity charge to recover the additional needed revenue. Sewer bills for residential customers are anticipated to stay the same or see a modest decrease. Sewer bills for industrial and commercial customers are anticipated to see an increase (but the extent will vary by customer). The minimum base charge for all customers is proposed to remain the same.
MSD offers a sewer rate discount to low-income seniors who own their own homes. Learn more
Interested in how your sewer bill is calculated? Learn more