Friday, Aug. 12, 2005

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WASA beating revenue forecast

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

Despite losing $335,000 in revenues from the shuttered Photocircuits plant, Peachtree City’s Water and Sewerage Authority is projecting to end its fiscal year with a $172,000 increase in revenues.

The authority was presented the figures in a package along with a draft version of WASA’s 2005-06 budget Monday night. The budget of $5.84 million would be an increase of 3.5 percent over this year’s operating budget.

The budget includes an additional staffer to locate sewerage lines so WASA meets the requirements of Senate Bill 274, passed this year by the General Assembly, said WASA General Manager Larry Turner. The legislation requires WASA to locate where pipes from individual buildings connect with the sewer mains, Turner added.

Not included in the budget is a possible significant cost savings, Turner indicated. WASA is studying the possibility of outsourcing most of its lab needs, which would eliminate two positions from the authority, he said.

Some lab tests would still be necessary to do in-house due to the water reuse program that sends treated sewage to golf courses for irrigation purposes, Turner said. But if a private service could do it cheaper, it could save “a very substantial amount of money,” Turner said.

In other business, WASA approved a $274,773 contract to pave the remainder of Aviation Way, which leads to the Line Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. The cost of the road will be split with the Peachtree City Airport Authority, as it will also serve a parcel of land on the far side of Falcon Field.