SNOW HILL, Md. - Worcester County officials are holding a series of public information sessions in April to explain proposed Fiscal Year 2026 water and sewer rate increases and the county’s 11 sanitary service areas.
According to county commissioners, each meeting will feature a presentation by administration and finance staff, as well as printed materials outlining the proposed changes. County staff will be available to answer questions from locals about the rate adjustments and budget concerns.
The upcoming sessions will be held at various Northern Worcester County locations, each focusing on specific sanitary service areas:
- Monday, April 21 at 6 p.m. — Berlin Library Meeting Room: Newark, River Run, Edgewater Acres, and Lighthouse Sound SSAs
- Thursday, April 24 at 6 p.m. — Stephen Decatur High School: West Ocean City, Mystic Harbour, Landings, Assateague Point, and Riddle Farm SSAs
- Wednesday, April 30 at 6:30 p.m. — St. Paul United Methodist Church on Flower St., Berlin: Briddletown SSA
In addition to these sessions, Commissioners Chip Bertino and Jim Bunting will lead a town hall focused on the Ocean Pines SSA on Wednesday, April 23 at 6 p.m. in the Ocean Pines Library Meeting Room.
County officials say the presentations will highlight both the proposed rate changes and the causes behind growing deficits in several systems, which they say include:
- Aging infrastructure
- Rising chemical and equipment costs
- Increased expenses from pumping and hauling after the Riddle Farm Wastewater Treatment Plant failure
A public hearing on the Fiscal Year 2026 Water and Wastewater Enterprise Fund Budget is scheduled for May 6 at 6 p.m. at the Worcester County Government Center.