At its April meeting, Advisory Board staff previewed the emerging Comments and Recommendations on the MWRA’s proposed FY19 capital and current expense budgets. Staff is recommending the Authority reduce its proposed capital spending cap for FY19-23 from $1.2 billion to $950 million - a 21% reduction. Additionally, staff recommended reducing the combined rate revenue requirement increase from the proposed 3.91% to 3.07% - also a 21% reduction. Staff also unveiled a new rates challenge for the Authority over the next ten years: reduce the next five years’ rate increases to under 3.5% and achieve 2.4% rate increases by FY24. Staff outlines one potential pathway to get there, but emphasizes that there are many options and other tools the Authority can use to achieve the same result. Staff recognize that achieving this goal will not be easy - but looks forward to working with the Authority to rise to this new challenge.

Leo Pierre Roy, DCR Commissioner, recently approved the appointment of John Scannell as the Director of DCR’s Water Supply Protection Division. Previous Director, Jonathan Yeo, left in January for a position with the City of Newton. Mr. Scannell has 25 years of experience working with DCR, including 17 years as the Regional Director for the Wachusett/Sudbury Region. Patricia Austin was appointed as Acting Regional Director for the Wachusett/Sudbury Region. She has over 30 years of DCR experience, having served as the Division’s Director of Environmental Quality and leading the development and implementation of Watershed Protection Plans. Finally, Ken Mackenzie will be serving as the Acting Director of Natural Resources for the Division of Water Supply Protection. He worked as DCR’s lead wildlife biologist since 2007.

The Advisory Board looks forward to working with John, Pat, and Ken to continue prioritizing water supply protection.