Ryan Graf, MBA Special assessments are a commonly used tool to finance the construction of improvements in parts of the country. The basic idea is that the cost of improvements is assigned to the individual properties that benefit and in relation to how much benefit is received. In other words, when a new water pipeline is installed along … Read more
The water and wastewater industry have taken encouraging steps to update the approach to affordability over this last year. What started as some recognition from those within the industry has grown to include a large affordability framework from the U.S. Water Alliance and formal update to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) Financial Capability Assessment. … Read more
Public works and utilities often look at their capital projects from a different perspective than the finance department, both of which may have different objectives than the elected leaders who will ultimately approve the projects. When it comes to budget time, this can add to confusion surrounding the needs of the utilities, from identifying if … Read more
As utility systems look to continue reinvesting in existing systems and expanding to serve new customers, one typical hurdle they face is how to pay for investments. Fortunate systems may have enough cash on hand or access to grant funding to offset the costs of needed improvements, but often a system will need to use … Read more
Sen. John Hoeven (R-North Dakota) teamed up with Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) to introduce legislation that would bring billions of investment dollars to State and local government to help grow and repair America’s aging infrastructure. The “Move America Act of 2015” would expand tax-exempt private activity bonds and create a new infrastructure tax credit, giving … Read more
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide $332 million in financial and technical assistance through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will accept ACEP applications to protect the nation’s critical wetlands and grasslands. The funding can also be used to help productive farm and ranch lands remain in … Read more