Bill Text: WV SCR33 | 2016 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Requesting WV Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council study and report on consolidation regarding public water and sewer utilities
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Passed) 2016-03-10 - House Message received [SCR33 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2016-SCR33-Comm_Sub.html
Committee Substitute
for
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 33
(By Senators Snyder, Boso and Stollings)
[Originating in the Committee on Government Organization; Reported February 22, 2016.]
Requesting the West Virginia Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council (IJDC) to study and
report on the issue of consolidation, regarding public water and sewer utilities.
Whereas, The Legislature is concerned that over five hundred municipal and public service district water and sewer utilities are providing service to customers. The capital cost associated with the repair or replacement of existing infrastructure that serves current customers and the construction of upgrades to existing facilities or new facilities to serve new customers is far greater than available public funding sources and the ability of the utilities to raise money from existing rate-payers; and
Whereas, In its 1994 regular session, the Legislature created the West Virginia Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council in article fifteen-a, chapter thirty-one of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended. Among other things, section four of the 1994 legislation requires the IJDC to develop guidelines for evaluating requests by project sponsors for funding assistance that include “the degree to which the project or infrastructure project encourages effective and efficient consolidation of water or sewage treatment systems consistent with the comprehensive plan developed pursuant to section six of the legislation.” Section six of the 1994 legislation contains subsection (c) which states that “the council shall study the viability of the consolidation of public service districts throughout the state” and report their findings and conclusions on or before January 16, 1995, to the Governor, Speaker of the House and President of the Senate; and
Whereas, Section six (b) of the 1994 act requires an assessment of water and sewer infrastructure to be filed by IJDC every three years which includes, among other things, an assessment to identify “obstacles, issues and problems which prevent or inhibit development of adequate infrastructure throughout the state, including financial, governmental, physical, or geographical factors and make recommendations as the council considers appropriate regarding the obstacles, issues or problems identified.” In reviewing proposed projects, the IJDC consolidation committee, upon the request of another IJDC committee or the council itself, will review the project and determine the potential for consolidation; and
Whereas, The Legislature believes that potential economies of scale and efficiencies in providing public water and sewer service could be realized through consolidation, regional planning and cooperation between municipal and county governments; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the West Virginia Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council study and report on the issue of consolidation, regarding public water and sewer utilities; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Legislature hereby requests that the IJDC refer every proposed public water and sewer project to its consolidation committee to consider the issues related to potential consolidation or other measures that could result in efficiencies and more productive use of public moneys for new treatment facilities or replacement of facilities, or major expansion of service, or any proposed within close proximity to other existing treatment, collection, and/or distribution facilities; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the IJDC submit a report to the Legislature at the beginning of its 2017 regular session that identifies the potential for consolidation; the IJDC’s treatment of that issue through its funding decisions; the problems that exist with the issue, including barriers that may impede cooperation between municipalities and public service districts in obtaining the desired result of providing quality water and sewer service to the residents of West Virginia at the lowest possible cost.
