Metropolitan Water Reclamation Board Approves $1.15 Billion 2020 Budget

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
December 19, 2019

Board Actions:

​The Board passed its final 2020 budget without discussion while emphasizing that it represents a $70 million or 5.7% decrease from 2019.  The estimated tax levy is $652.6 million [up 1.4% from 2019], and full time equivalent employees are down 14 from 2019 at 1,953.  This represents no significant change from the budget that was tentatively approved on December 12.   
Of interest is where the Corporate Fund money goes [in millions]:
        Construction & Design                              $254.4 / 23.4%
        Bond Redemption & Interest                      233.0 / 21.4%
        Plant Operations & Maintenance              202.6 /  18.6%
        Staff Services                                              127.8 /  11.8%
        Stormwater Management                             116.3 /  10.7%
        Retirement Fund                                            87.3 /   8.0%
        Claims & Judgments                                       34.4 /   3.2%
        Monitoring & Research                                    31.5 /   2.9%

The Board passed a one-year continuation of its intergovernmental agreement with the Cook County Sheriff’s office to continue and expand its very successful drug disposal program of expired and unwanted over the counter and prescription drugs.  The purposes of which is to maximize the volume of drugs prevented from reaching and polluting Illinois waterways.  Budgeted at $100,000.  Commissioners want to expand to city halls and anywhere that dispenses drugs as collection sites.  The Sheriff’s office wants to offer a mail back option for the elderly and disabled.

An on-site Mobile and Testing Service Contract was approved, but Commissioner Spyropoulos asked that information regarding the times use, the length of time the District has engaged in this contract, and what other options might be available for drug testing be provided to all commissioners for future consideration.

Published and filed was a report on public notification of significant industrial users having exemplary compliance and records and industrial users significantly violating pretreatment standards or other requirements.  Commissioner Garcia asked if penalties could be increased.  The Executive Director said staff would check it out.

Observer:  Diane Edmundson                                                      Meeting Length 90 min.