b MSD - Budget & Rate Information

  • Budgets and Sewer Rates

    Overview

    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 funding needed to support MSD's operation of more than 3,000 miles of public sewers and interceptors, 100 pump stations, 7 major wastewater treatment plants, and 5 wet weather facilities, including the new Werk & Westbourne Enhanced High Rate Treatment facility in Green Township. The Operations budget also covers the cost of personnel and the non-personnel costs to run MSD every day 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 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 wet weather projects mandated by our federal Consent Decree, which is our program to reduce sewer overflows into local streams and rivers. 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 cover the costs of operating and maintaining the district and complying with our Consent Decree.

    The Hamilton County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) is responsible for approving MSD's budgets and rate increases. As part of the process, MSD typically submits its proposed budgets to the BoCC in August followed by meetings with the County over the next several months to fine-tune the proposals. The BoCC hosts a public hearing(s) in November or December prior to final approval of the budgets/rate increases in December.



    2021 Operating Budget

    MSD's approved 2021 Operating Budget is $222.8 million. The BoCC approved this budget on December 17, 2020. This is a 2.34% increase over the 2020 budget. MSD is projected to generate about $268.7 million in operating revenue during 2021.

    The budget includes:

    • About $62 million for personnel
    • About $66 million for non-personnel (e.g., fleet, chemicals, equipment)
    • About $11 million for the SBU Program (non-personnel)
    • About $83.6 million for debt payment

    For more details, please view the approved 2021 Operating Budget.


    2021 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Budget

    MSD's approved 2021 CIP Budget is $123.4 million. The BoCC approved this budget on December 17, 2020.

    The budget includes:

    • About 39.2 million for 14 wet weather projects
    • About $62.4 million for 42 asset management projects
    • About $21.7 million for programmatic contingency, labor capitalization, CIP program management, and Hamilton County Utility Oversight & Coordination.

    For more details, please view the approved 2021 CIP Budget.


    Sewer Rates for 2021

    There is no sewer rate increase for 2021. Sewer rates have not increased for the last six years.


    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