Worcester Township Gets PA Award For Rescuing Sewer Fund From Insolvency

WORCESTER, PA — Worcester Township in central Montgomery County has been recognized by state officials for working to rescue its sanitary sewer fund from insolvency.

The Department of Community and Economic Development announced last week that the township received the Fiscal Accountability and Best Management Practices award during the 26th Annual Governor's Awards for Local Government Excellence.

According to the DCED, Worcester worked to save its sewer fund from insolvency in a way that the fund fully provides for the operational and capital needs of the municipality's sanitary sewer system.

"Through sound financial decisions, the township kept operating costs way down managing an increase in its annual sewer rates of only 2.3 percent since 2015 and successfully building capital reserves totaling more than $1.5 million," the DCED stated in a news release.

Acting DCED Secretary Neil Weaver said in a statement that a total of 11 communities, two organizations and eight individuals from across the commonwealth — which included Worcester Township — were recognized for various achievements.

"The projects and individuals recognized today help continue to make Pennsylvania the best place in the world to live, work and play," Weaver said in his statement.

Conshohocken Borough, another Montgomery municipality, was also among those recognized during the awards program. It received a Building Community Partnerships award.

According to Worcester Township officials, the award was presented to Board of Supervisors' Chairman Rick DeLello by C. Kim Bracey, executive director for the Governor's Center for Local Government Services, during a ceremony held April 13 at the State Museum in Harrisburg.

Worcester Township says that the work to create a fiscally sustainable sanitary sewer system dates back to the fall of 2015, when officials discovered the sewer fund was depleted, with system expenses being paid out of the general fund.

At the time, the township put together a plan of action that included conducting a complete review of all expenditures and receipts; establishing a minimum fund balance policy to be respected at all times; and maintaining a reserve account that fully funds the sewer system's long-term capital improvements.

The township says that the sewer fund now has a balanced yearly operating budget of about $700,000 and has a capital reserve fund of more than $2 million.

The township additionally stated that the sanitary sewer fee has increased by less than one percent annually for each of the previous five years.

Worcester's sanitary sewer system services more than 1,000 homes and businesses.