MDC BOARD ADOPTS 2026 BUDGET AND RATES
No increase to water rate or ad valorem sewer tax
December 10, 2025
For Immediate Release
(HARTFORD, CT) – The Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) voted to adopt the 2026 budget that included water and sewer rates at the December 8th meeting of the District Board. The budget setting process includes a series of public meetings as well as collaboration with the town managers and finance directors of the MDC’s eight member towns. The MDC provides two separate essential services, drinking water and wastewater collection and treatment. The MDC approved a $241 million water and sewer budget, a 6.4% increase from 2025 without raising the water rate or sewer ad valorem tax.
WATER RATE / CUSTOMER SERVICE CHARGES / CWP RATE
For 2026, the Water Use Charge, based on volumetric usage, will remain have no increase and remain at $3.91 per ccf (A ccf is equal to approximately 748 gallons of water). The Water Customer Service Charge, a fixed monthly charge will increase to $15.73 a month, an increase of 75 cents per month after having no increase for 7 years. In addition, the Sewer Customer Service Charge, will increase to $12.50 per month, an increase of $3.50 per month.
The Clean Water Project Charge (CWP), also based on volume, will increase from $4.57 per ccf to $4.87 per ccf, an increase of 30 cents. The CWP Charge is solely to pay for the principal and interest on bonds and loans issued to finance the Clean Water Project, the major sewer infrastructure capital improvement project mandated by the federal and state governments for the MDC’s eight member towns that have water and sewer service.
For a Member Town customer that uses 100 ccf of water in a year, this amounts to approximately a $6.75 a month increase for a 2026 water bill or $81 for the entire year.
AD VALOREM
The majority of the MDC’s standard sewer operations are funded by an ad valorem tax, a direct bill to the each of the MDC’s eight member towns that is recovered from customers as part of municipal property taxes. For the third time in the last four years, the ad valorem tax will have zero overall increase.
CEO Scott Jellison stated, “MDC rates remain among the best value for any utility in Connecticut. Holding the water rate and the ad valorem to zero increase while providing the same service is a testament to our staff’s diligence.”
MDC Chairman Donald Currey said, “I am pleased our transparent budget process yielded a fair water and sewer budget for our towns. The collaborative process allowed us to balance funding critical improvements to our water and sewer systems while always recognizing affordability for our customers.”
FOR MORE INFO ON the MDC’s 2026 BUDGET:
https://themdc.org/budget/