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 primarily by customer sewer bills.
  • Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Budget - funding for capital items like new sewers, upgrades to treatment plants, and other assets. The CIP Budget also includes wet weather projects mandated by our Wet Weather Program to reduce sewer overflows into local streams and rivers. Our CIP Budget is funded primarily by bonds, low-interest loans through the Ohio Water Development Authority, and customer sewer bills.

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 and rates.

 

 

Public Hearings for MSD's Proposed 2027 Budgets and Sewer Rates

The BoCC will conduct public hearings to consider MSD's proposed 2027 Operating Budget, proposed 2027 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Budget and 2027-2031 CIP, and revised sewer rates:

 

  • 1:15 p.m. on Thursday, November 12, 2026,
  • 10:15 a.m. on Tuesday, November 17, 2026,

The hearings will be held in person in Room 605 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, Ohio 45202. 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 the Clerk to the Board, Todd B. Portune Center for County Government, 138 E. Court Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.

 

Proposed 2027 Operating Budget

MSD's proposed 2027 Operating Budget is $265.2 million. 

 

The proposed budget includes:

 

  • $76.4 million for personnel
  • $82.8 million for non-personnel (e.g., chemicals, equipment)
  • $8.3 million for other non-personnel (e.g., overhead, fleet, and office technology equipment)
  • $11.2 million for the Sewer Backup (SBU) Program (non-personnel)
  • $86.5 million for debt payment and refinancing

VIEW THE PROPOSED 2027 OPERATING BUDGET

 

 

Proposed 2027 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Budget and 2027 – 2031 CIP

MSD's proposed 2027 CIP Budget is $275.6 million.

 

The proposed budget includes:

 

  • $155 million for construction of four projects, including the Phase 2B Little Miami WWTP Electrical, Primary, and Secondary Improvements.
  • $44.6 million for five construction allowances: Critical Asset Management, Main Sewer Renewal Program, Manhole Renewal Program Prioritized Wastewater Collection System Asset Management, and Programmatic Contingency.
  • $76 million for planning, design, and easement funding for six projects and for eight allowances including Hamilton County utility oversight, HSTS eliminations, and MSD labor.

View the proposed 2027 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget

 

 

Proposed 2027 Sewer Rate Increase

To be posted shortly

MSD and Hamilton County Administration have determined a 4% increase in revenue is needed in 2027 to fund MSD's Operating and CIP budgets. To accommodate these requests, MSD is proposing two 2027 rate adjustment alternatives for the Board of County Commissioners' consideration:

  • Option 1: 4% increase to the Minimum Base Charge and Commodity Charge for all customers and to the Industrial Pretreatment annual fee and maximum monitoring charge for industrial users in MSD's Pretreatment Program. No change to surcharge rates.
  • Option 2: Reduce the current 3 CCF minimum allowance to 2 CCF under the Minimum Base Charge, as well as incorporate adjustments necessary to accomplish the necessary 4% increase in revenue. No change to surcharge rates.

View the proposed 2027 Rate Tables

 

 

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

 

 

 

WANT TO LEARN MORE?

PROPOSED 2027 OPERATING BUDGET

 

PROPOSED 2027 CIP BUDGET AND 2027-2031 CIP PROGRAM

 

PAST MSD BUDGETS