“It’s beginning to come back to bite us.” says Commissioner Eric Fiori on increased water rates
WORCESTER COUNTY, Md. – Water and sewer users in Worcester County got the chance to speak to the commissioners in a public hearing at the last meeting.
Many are upset because rates in each of the 11 wastewater sanitary services areas increased in the Fiscal Year 2026.
Residents spoke out, saying this is one of the highest spikes in the country. “Given that its probably one of the highest rates in the nation, for what I’ve seen.”
And others speaking up saying his bill is astounding. “My bill is going from $460 last year, which is 52%. I checked my usage last year, I’m 220 gallons higher this year. I am absolutely… I can’t believe it,” said another county resident.
The county owns and operates each SSA. They have these water facilities in one bank account. County officials say “While this was not the intent – the system allowed underfunded services areas to remain operational even if they were cash negative for a time.”
Some facilities have been made for use for several years without maintenance.
District 5 Commissioner, Chip Bertino, telling residents he wishes the county was more transparent to the residents.
“It should have been better advertised. We did a lousy job with that. We should have definitely had a much more robust public relations/informational aspect to this,” said Commissioner Bertino. “Because it may have cleared up some concerns ahead of time.”
The underfunded maintenance caused a significant backlog on repairs and replacements at various facilities. County Public Work officials claiming that the 2008 recession did a ton of damage. Prior to the recession, all the 11 areas would be cleaned every 5 years, but things changed after the recession period.
The county has already attempted to start fixes, like on a pump station at Assateague Pointe. Commissioners have expressed gratitude from Ocean City for allowing them to use its wastewater facility. The partnership between the county and OC allows them to alleviate costs from the Landings and Assateague Pointe facilities, which are failing.
It would be an additional 170,000 gallons for capacity use.
Commissioner Eric Fiori tells WMDT that county leaders will fix this problem, even if it was something they inherited.
“I want to highlight this is what this group of commissioners is doing now to try and supplement these. We don’t want to raise rates, but we have reached a point where the can has been kicked for so long, it’s beginning to come back to bite us.”
The 2026 Water & Wastewater net income without capital expenses under the current adopted rates has only 4/11 facilities operating at a loss. With capital expenses included 9/11, facilities would be operating under a loss.
This number is better than the 11/11 facilities if the FY26 rates changes weren’t enforced.
WMDT will continue to provide updates on the matter.
