b MSD - Budget & Rate Information

Budget Information

Annual Budget and Sewer Rates

MSD needs to balance its budget, just like everyone else. We begin this process every summer and complete it by December for the coming year.

We have two budgets:

  • Operations Budget which includes the cost of personnel and the non-personnel costs to run MSD every day such as equipment and tools, chemicals, fuel, electricity and 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 Operations budget is funded through customer sewer bills.

  • Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Budget which includes capital items like new sewers, upgrades to treatment plants and other assets. The CIP also includes projects mandated under MSD's federal Consent Decree. Our CIP budget is funded through bonds, low-interest loans through the Ohio Water Development Authority and cash.

MSD also conducts annual rate studies to determine if a sewer rate increase is needed to meet the financial needs of operating a sewer system and to cover the costs related to our federal Consent Decree to reduce sewer overflows into creeks and rivers.

The Hamilton County Commissioners must approve our annual budgets and any proposed rate increase. They host public hearings as part of the approval process, usually in December.


2018 Operating Budget

MSD expects to generate about $277.8 million in operating revenue during 2018.

MSD's approved 2018 Operating Budget is $211.2 million. This budget is 8.3% less than the approved 2017 budget. This reduction was achieved by decreasing non-personnel requests and debt payment.

This revised budget includes:

  • $53.4 million for personnel
  • $53.5 million for non-personnel
  • $5.7 million for the Sewer Backup (SBU) Program
  • $5.6 million for Fleet, General Fund Overhead (GFOH) and Office Technology Equipment Allowance (OTEA)
  • $93 million for debt payment

For more details, please view the Resolution Adopting a 2018 Operating Budget.


2018 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Budget

MSD's approved 2018 CIP Budget is $129.1 million. This budget includes 58 wet weather and asset management projects. Our CIP budget is primarily funded by bond issues.

For more details, please view the Resolution Adopting a 2018 CIP Budget.



2018 Sewer Rate Information

On November 15, 2017, the Hamilton County Commissioners approved a 0% increase in the sewer rate for 2018. There has been no increase in MSD sewer rates since 2015.


For more details, please view the Resolution Adopting 2018 Rates and Rate Structure.

Contact Us

Report a Sewer Backup:
(513) 352-4900 24/7 or online

Customer Call Center:
(513) 352-4900 24/7

Project Customer Service:
(513) 557-3594

Development Services:
(513) 244-1330

Media Inquiries:
(513) 557-7095

Email:
MSD.Communications@cincinnati-oh.gov

MSD Mailing Address:
1600 Gest St.
Cincinnati, Ohio 45204

MSD Facilities and Directions

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