MORGANTOWN — The fiscal year 2026 budgets passed this week by the Morgantown Utility Board include 3% rate increases starting July 1 for the utility’s water, sewer and stormwater customers.
This is the third and final “inflationary adjustment” approved for MUB’s 2024, 2025 and 2026 budgets by Morgantown City Council in 2021, along with larger increases implemented that year.
All told, MUB is anticipating revenues totaling $45,934,468.28 spread across four utilities – water ($18,973,065), sewer ($19,737,121), stormwater ($2,443,909) and Cheat Lake sewer ($4,780,373.28).
By way of comparison, the city of Morgantown’s 2026 budget is projected at $45,376,480. Monongalia County’s upcoming budget is $43,675,929.
MUB’s anticipated revenues are up from $39,233,210.37 anticipated this time last year.
A significant portion of that difference, roughly $3 million, is due to the 100% rate increase implemented for some 3,400 Cheat Lake sewer customers on Nov. 29. The rate hike was approved in support of the ongoing Cheat Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion project awarded to Mele & Mele & Sons for just over $36 million.
Of the $45.9 million in total revenue, MUB anticipates spending $22,769,954.19 on operating expenses, $12,992,401 on debt requirements and $10,172,114.09 on capital improvements.
The utility board is spending $836,400 on raises for current and future employees. Fully staffed, MUB has right around 150 employees. The budget includes 3% cost of living adjustments for the 142 current employees and bumps the utility’s base pay to $19/hour in accordance with the findings of a recent compensation study.
General Manager Mike McNulty said roughly a third of MUB’s workforce will be eligible for retirement in the next 10 years. Further, he said experienced staff members are continually poached by other utilities based largely on pay differential.
“I think it’s important also to realize that when water and sewer lines break in the dead of winter, people are expecting someone to show up, many times in very hazardous conditions, to make repairs,” member Tom Witt said. “We need to make sure that we have the adequate manpower – many of whom work day and night to complete these projects – that they be there. That’s why it’s important that we be fully staffed.”
Based on budget documents, the 3% rate increases don’t apply in all areas. For example, the water rate increase for customers formerly under the Cheat View Public Service District will be 2%. Former River Road PSD customers will not see an increase in water rates. On the sewer side, customers formerly under the Canyon and Scott’s Run PSDs will not see a rate change.
