Category: Budget

Board Votes on Several Resolutions and Again Defers the Drug Takeback Program with the Cook County Sheriff

1/7/2026

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Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
December 18, 2025

Agenda Items Approved:

After a month of deliberations and a public hearing, the board approved annual tax levies and adopted a 2026 final budget of $1.8B that includes investing in public infrastructure, stormwater and flood management, and with new consideration of the long-term environmental and financial implications of permit compliance. Soon to be available is an online interactive budget dashboard* The 2025 budget was just under $1.7B. Ordinance 025-0004A
They also adopted an Ordinance establishing the minimum qualifications and duties for the MWRD Inspector General and are convening search and selection committees for appointing an IG to replace the current interim, Patrick Blanchard, whose contract was extended thru June 2026 at the December 4, 2025 board meeting. 025-012
Previously twice deferred by Commissioner Sepulveda, the board approved a $250,000 contract with Web-based Compliance Software. Commissioner Sepulveda asked that in the future RFPs include a “no charge” provision to allow business to upload redundant information from other submissions. #22 25-0848

Agenda Items Deferred/Deleted:

For the 3rd time, Commission Davis asked that the Intergovernmental Agreement with the CC Sheriff’s Office for the Prescription Drug Take-Back Program in the amount of $80,000 be deferred so that his team can digest the responses received from MWRD staff. The board agreed to the deferral but voiced several strong supporting comments including those reported in the November and then again at the December 4 meeting. Brady-Davis said she understands that the issue isn’t the value of the program but who pays. Garcia strongly supports and wants more boxes in communities in 2027. Sepulveda asked that staff develop a strategy for getting the pharmaceutical association(s) more involved in 2027. #43 25-0885
Commissioner Flynn deferred a $191,525,00 landscaping contract for a Paver Walkway Improvement. No reason was given. #35 25-0962
President Steele deferred with no discussion the Recommendations for the State of Illinois 2026 Legislative Program. Expect to see it on the January 8, 2026 agenda. #45 25-0968

Other Interesting Items:

Authorization was given for payment to the Water Research Foundation for the 2026 Annual Research Commitment not to exceed $190,663. Commissioner Waller now serves on a new committee covering IT Data Centers: Understanding Economic Considerations and Opportunities for Water and Wastewater Utilities #20 25-0941

No Executive Session; All commissioners present; Length of meeting: 70 minutes

Observer - Diane Edmundson

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MWRD Board Holds 3 Meetings on Dec. 4

12/14/2025

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Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meetings
December 4, 2025

The Board held

The Annual Meeting at which President Steele presented her Annual Message which can be found HERE by clicking on the link “President’s Message 2025” (item 25-0893).
The regular Board meeting, with information provided below.
The public hearing on the proposed 2026 budget for the public to provide any comments, but no one spoke.

At the regular Board meeting, all items were approved, except for Agenda Items 20, 33, and 34, which were deleted by the Executive Director; and Agenda Items 9 and 32, which were deferred.

Commissioner Sepulveda requested a second deferment of an authority to advertise a contract to furnish, deliver and install web-based compliance software at an estimated cost of $250,000. (See the observer report for the November 20 meeting.) Since this was the second deferment, a vote had to be taken and the deferment was approved. There were no comments or questions about this Item 25-0848 (agenda item #9).
Commissioner Davis deferred Item 25-0885 (agenda item #32), the proposal to amend and extend the intergovernmental agreement with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office for its prescription drug take-back program at a cost of up to $80,000 for 2026. Comm. Davis said that he continued to have problems (also raised last year) with using taxpayer money for the take-back program which, now under law, the drug companies are required to pay for. Comm. Flynn and President Steele both expressed support for the MWRD continuing in the program, with President Steele saying that the MWRD contribution allows for receptacles and drug pick-up in communities where there otherwise would be none.

Also discussed:

Authority to advertise a contract to create in Harvey a 23-acre stormwater detention basin to provide flood storage and installation of storm sewer to convey the stormwater to the basin and allow discharge into the Wood Street storm sewer system. Cost is estimated to be between $11.4 M and $13.8 M. This project is expected to provide flood reduction for 209 structures. Comm. Davis asked about the annual maintenance costs for these facilities should Harvey not perform its duties to maintain. Exec. Director Murray said that they would be nominal. In response to a question from Comm. Sepulveda, Exec. Director Murray said that the MWRD had the sole authority to pick the vendors for the construction, with Harvey playing no role. (Agenda item 10, Item 25-0897)
Comm. Garcia thanked the Board members who back in 2007 created the Other Postemployment Benefits Fund, which is used to cover the costs of the MWRD providing medical and prescription drug benefits to qualifying employees and their eligible spouses and dependents. Under the existing policy, $5 M was to be provided to the Fund in 2026. However, the Fund is above 100% of its funding goal. So no payment will be made in 2026 and the Policy for the Fund has now been amended to provide that funds will only be deposited in the future to maintain the 100% funding goal. (Agenda item #1, Item 25-0908)

During public comments, Cook County Commissioner Josina Morita, a former MWRD Commissioner, presented a resolution from herself and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle congratulating John Murray on his appointment as the MWRD Executive Director.

Length of regular Board meeting: 55 minutes

Observer: Priscilla Mims

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New Commissioner Joins MWRD Board To Approve a $1.69B Tentative Budget

12/24/2024

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Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
December 12, 2024

This meeting was for the sole purpose of approving the Adopted Budget for 2025. This was approved unanimously with no discussion. However, there is one more step in the budget process before the 2025 budget will be finalized: on December 19, the Board will consider any final amendments which could impact the numbers given below.

Beth McElroy Kirkwood was appointed by Governor J.B. Pritzker to fill the empty Commissioner position as a result of former Commissioner Mariyana Spyropoulos’ election as Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court on Nov. 5. Ms. McElory Kirkwood will serve as a Commissioner until November 2026 when someone will be elected to serve the remaining two years of Comm. Spyropoulos’ 6-year term.

The Adopted Budget of $1.695 Billion:

Is slightly up from the Tentative Budget approved by the Commissioners in November, and slightly down from the $1.7 Billion proposed budget presented initially in October by the Executive Director. It is also $266 Million more than the adjusted 2024 budget, or an increase of 18.6%.
Includes an estimated total tax levy of just under $710 Million, a 2.6% increase over 2024 (or $18 Million more).
Has an estimated total tax rate slightly less than 2024. Applying the total tax levy to the anticipated Equalized Assessed Value (EAV) of properties within the MWRD District, the total tax rate is expected to be 33.85 cents per $100 of EAV in 2025 vs. 34.17 cents in 2024.
Has the largest increases (10% increase or more) over 2024 for General Administration, and for the Construction Fund and Capital Improvements Bond Fund (for a total Capital Budget that is 64.7% higher than 2024).
Has a proposed reduction in Full Time Equivalent positions by 14 to 1,952.

Observer: Priscilla Mims Length of meeting: 30 minutes

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MWRD Board Approves 2024 Budget

1/10/2024

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Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meetings
December 14 and December 21, 2023

MWRD APPROVES FINAL 2024 BUDGET
2024 Appropriation vs (2023) 2024 FTEs vs (2023)
$1,428 Billion $1,432 B (- .2%) 1,967 1,957 (+10)
$131.5 Million $ 129 M Stormwater 100 99 (-1)
2024 Tax Levy: $693.7 M (2.1%)

Board Action

The December 14, 2023 meeting lasted 20 minutes. All commissioners were present to approve the recommended 2024 budget. A motion to revise the 2024 budget to approve a 3% salary increase for non-union employees was approved without discussion - #4 23-1192. The Board also approved the motion to increase the Reserve Claim Fund by .005%. 23-1194. All members were present and there was no Executive Session.
The December 21, 2023 meeting lasted 50 minutes and all Commissioners were present. There was no Executive Session. The board was asked to adopt the amended budget which it did unanimously without discussion along with all other budget ordinances. Also approved was a $7.1 million dollar contract for a Westchester pumping relief sewer with no discussion and an amendment to an Intergovernmental Agreement with the CC Sheriff’s office to continue supporting the prescription Drug Take-Back Program for another year for an amount not to exceed $80,000. #35 23-1218 and #50 23-1242 respectively.

Items Deferred

Commissioner Garcia deferred the request to participate in the Suburban Purchasing Cooperative-Joint Purchasing Program as he noted that the MWRD and the program are not for profit, and he wants to see if participation goals can be applied to big purchase items. The staff responded that goals are not used for services under this program. He wants more details on the program. #19 23-1220
Commissioner Sepulveda deferred the $14.5 million purchase order request to enter into an agreement for change orders dealing with its huge Biogas Combined Heat and Power System that it is developing for the MWRD. There was no discussion by any of the Commissioners including Sepulveda. #28 23-1203
Commissioner Sepulveda also deferred a request to increase a Janitorial Services contract by almost $100,000 to $776,191. She wants information on whether the contractor pays “prevailing wage and provides health benefits. #41 23-1209

Observer: Diane Edmundson

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MWRD Board Approves 2023 Budget

1/7/2023

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Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
December 15, 2022

Board Action

The 2023 budget of $1,624 Billion with 1957 FTEs was approved with no discussion. The number of FTEs was a reduction from 1972 FTEs in the 2022 Budget with most of those reductions at the Stickney plant.
Also approved without discussion were amendments to the Sewage and Waste Control Ordinance. The primary changes were to replace the term Standard Methods with US-EPA Approved Methods; and to increase and simplify the Noncompliance Enforcement Charges Table which has not been changed since 2012. (Agenda Item #IW22-001A)
Resolutions calling for the payment of 2023 dues to the U.S. Water Alliance and the Water Research Foundation were approved after twice being deferred by Commissioner Davis over his concern that these two organizations were not being sufficiently pro-active in lobbying for legislation and regulation holding PFAS chemical manufacturers responsible for cleanup and removal. (Agenda Items #22-1190 & 1191). Note: The 3M Corporation recently announced that they will eliminate the production of PFAS chemicals by 2025.

Stormwater Management

Blue Island Washington Street Flood Control purchase order previously approved was rescinded. The staff expects to resubmit with Blue Island and MWRD sharing the costs. #22-1129.
Additionally, ten other inter-government projects were approved without discussion most for either green alley or permeable pavement contracts.
Two end of year reports were accepted: Prioritized Projects covering 2022 and into 2023; Future projects to be considered; and a map showing the locations. #22-1148.

Commissioner Requests

Commissioner Sepulveda asked for a list of projects that were not accepted for consideration under #22-1148.
Commissioner Davis asked that the recent PSAS Board Directions be transmitted to both the U.S. Water Alliance and the Water Research Foundation and the “Polluter Pay Principle” applied to these two and any other Water organization membership that the MWRD has. Commissioner Sepulveda asked for quarterly reports on these requests; a list of MWRD activities on this issue, and a list of the organizations’ activities. She also requested a list of committees with whom our staff is in conversation.
Commissioner Garcia asked if there is an increase in participation goals when change orders increase by significant dollars including those contracts where change orders take them from under to over the $100,000 floor.
Commissioner Garcia asked for a Study Session on Procurement. He listed several issues to explore. The League will monitor this request.
Commissioner Sepulveda attended an EPA meeting on the Robbins water problems and suggested that when projects are considered for water main replacements, the MWRD also look at whether the sewers should be replaced at the same time so as to perhaps qualify for some state and federal monies.

Board Attendees: Davis, DuBuclet, Flynn, Garcia, Pogorzelski, Sepulveda, Steele, Spyropoulos
Absent: Yumeka Brown

Observer: Diane Edmundson Length of Bd meeting: 75 min.

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MWRD Finalizes 2022 Budget at $1.294 B, a 7.4% Increase Over Adjusted 2021 Budget

12/20/2021

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Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
December 16, 2021

Budget:

The Board amended the Adopted 2022 Budget that had been approved on December 9 by increasing the Corporate Fund by $834,900. Much of this increase is due to an increase in the Maintenance & Operations budget to accommodate the carry forward of a building services contract and to cover higher planned costs for parts and chemicals.
In addition, the Capital Improvements Bond Fund was increased by $65 M from the 2022 Adopted Budget, due to changes in the schedules for several capital projects.
With these changes, the 2022 Budget is final at $1.294 B. (Agenda Item 1, File #21-1219)
The Tax Rate for 2022 is $0.3747 per $100 of Equalized Assessed Valuation, unchanged from the 2022 Adopted Budget. This is slightly less than the $0.3765 rate for 2021. However, the total tax levy for 2022 is $678.9 M, a 2.5% increase over 2021.
Also unchanged from the 2022 Adopted Budget is the number of employees at 1,971, an increase of 31 as compared to the 2021 Adjusted Budget.
An amendment which created an Environmental Justice Section reporting to the Executive Director (but which added no costs) passed unanimously. This new Section will be staffed by an Assistant Civil Engineer (a currently vacant position to be transferred from the Engineering Department) and the Human Relations Manager for diversity, equity, and inclusion. This new Section is to coordinate activities outlined in Strategic Goal 5 in conjunction with the Climate Action Plan. (Agenda Item 3, File # 21-1221)
A proposed additional amendment to the budget, which would have had no impact on the totals, was pulled for discussion and later voted down. Under this amendment, $50,000 would have been moved from one line item to provide funding for legal services for the Board of Directors. Commissioners Davis, Garcia, Morita, and Corral Sepulveda voted for the amendment. President Steele, Vice President McGowan, and Commissioners Du Buclet and Spyropoulos voted “no.” Those voting against cited the fact that the MWRD has a Legal Department, and Comm. Du Buclet said she could find no other body that had its own lawyers on staff apart from that government’s legal department. With the 4-4 tie, the motion to approve this amendment failed. (Agenda Item 2, File # 21-1220)
Apart from the discussion of Agenda Item 2 above, there was no other discussion concerning the specifics of the budget.

Other Board Action:

The Board approved, by separate vote but no discussion, an ordinance establishing the right-of-way for the construction, operation and maintenance of the Flood Control Project in the Worth Woods Subdivision in Worth, Illinois. (Agenda Item 12, File # R21-004)
All items on the rest of the agenda were approved, including the item under Stormwater Management, the authority to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with and make a payment to the Village of Willow Springs for the acquisition of a flood-prone property in an amount not to exceed $465,000. (Agenda Item 51, File # 21-1171)

New Business:

Comm. Garcia pointed to the upcoming review of new policies for 2022 concerning Land Use and Environmental Justice, as well as the review of the existing Affirmative Action policy.

Observer: Priscilla Mims

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Board Votes on Several Resolutions and Again Defers the Drug Takeback Program with the Cook County Sheriff

MWRD Board Holds 3 Meetings on Dec. 4

New Commissioner Joins MWRD Board To Approve a $1.69B Tentative Budget

MWRD Board Approves 2024 Budget

MWRD Board Approves 2023 Budget

MWRD Finalizes 2022 Budget at $1.294 B, a 7.4% Increase Over Adjusted 2021 Budget

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