City of Binghamton officials spent a budget-review session examining the water and sewer department’s operating lines and capital requests, focusing on equipment replacements, shared heavy equipment, and a pair of large capital projects that officials estimated at about $4.2 million combined.

The review covered multiple cost pressures in the operations budget — including a 2024 electricity bill that exceeded expectations by more than $20,000, a recent supplier-driven shift in disinfection chemicals, increased training costs tied to a nine‑day certification class in Cortland, and several vehicle and parts lines that have been exhausted this year.

Why it matters: The committee addressed both near‑term maintenance shortfalls (out‑of‑service dump trucks, a crane truck with insufficient lift capacity, and worn backhoes shared with the Department of Public Works) and longer‑term capital needs that would require bond or financing decisions. Staff also discussed options for aligning next year’s fuel line budgets with actual usage and pursuing outside funding for some projects.

Officials outlined two large capital needs. First, a multiyear valve‑actuator replacement program for the water plant — staff said the plant has roughly 70 actuators installed in 2002 with a nominal 10‑year life; many have exceeded useful life and are beginning to fail. The department proposes phased replacements, replacing a subset each year rather than a single bond for the full program. Staff estimated an annual cost “in the ballpark” of roughly $120,000 per year for ongoing replacements.

Second, staff described a one‑time water‑plant generator project to increase onsite standby capacity. The existing generator and transfer switches run roughly two‑thirds of the plant; in a prolonged outage staff said they required external emergency generators in a recent storm and electricians to reconfigure transfer switches. The proposed generator and related electrical work is a single capital purchase; engineering was reported as already completed. Combined, the actuator and generator work were described as about $4.2 million, though staff said final financing decisions depend on pay‑as‑you‑go versus bonding and the precise project estimates.

Staff also identified multiple equipment and fleet shortfalls: the department maintains three backhoes while the DPW has two (one not operable), and the two agencies have a long‑running practice of sharing machines. Staff said one of the DPW machines has been effectively on long‑term loan from water/sewer for about 11 years; the hydraulics on a nonworking machine are not worth repairing. The department proposed acquiring a fourth backhoe so DPW and water/sewer needs can be met without relying on unsafe machines.

A sewer crane truck from 2008 was described as having a 3,500‑pound lift capacity while newer pumps and equipment being installed require an 8,500‑pound lift. Staff said a heavier‑capacity crane truck is needed to safely handle current pump installations.

Vehicle fleet lines also showed stress: one dump truck (model year 2008) has been out of commission because of repair costs since March, leaving three trucks to cover five expected units. Staff signaled intent to request one replacement dump truck in the current capital ask; further replacement requests may come in later years.

On smaller capital and recurring lines, staff said the meter and hydrant program purchases a small number of residential meters each year to keep stock and rotate units; the department just ordered 50 meters at a reported cost of about $8,000 (roughly $200 per standard residential meter). A connection project and metering between the City and the Town of Binghamton will require an interconnection meter installation next year, which staff said is not urgent but should be scheduled.

Budget‑line clarifications and operations: staff explained that fuel budgeting for next year will be based on actual departmental usage after implementing a fuel tracking tool this year. Overtime and vehicle‑repair lines have fluctuated: some large repairs have been incurred this year but vehicle‑repair spending varies by which fleet line is charged. Training and certification costs have risen because New York no longer accepts prior training material used by the department, requiring a more costly in‑state class for new wastewater operators.

Debt and bond items: staff identified an “ADM fee / EFC” line tied to administrative fees on Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) notes the city has used for sewer projects; those expenses appear in the bond schedule and match bond years cited by staff. Staff said some projects may be financed through notes or bonds pending further financial planning.

Actions and formal outcomes: the transcript records no formal motion to close the reviewed budget pages and capital items (the chair asked for a motion and no motion was made on those pages). The meeting concluded when a motion to adjourn was made and seconded; a voice vote was taken with the chair announcing “all in favor.” The transcript did not record mover or seconder names or a roll‑call tally for that vote.

Staffing and hiring: participants discussed a currently vacant system‑maintainer position and several helper openings paid at lower steps. Staff said helpers typically advance after about three years of training. Participants also discussed recruitment for a superintendent position; staff said the proposed next‑year salary should be sufficient to attract candidates but that the superintendent job description includes an engineering degree requirement the department has not had in the role since 2001.

Grants and outside funding: staff reported some outreach on potential state and federal water‑infrastructure grants but did not present concrete awarded grants for the generator or actuator projects. Council and staff encouraged further exploration of grant opportunities.

No fee changes were proposed for water or sewer rates in the reviewed pages.

Staff and council members indicated there will be follow‑up on several items (final project estimates, financing strategy for the generator and actuator work, scheduling of the Town of Binghamton meter installation, and vacancy status). The meeting ended with a standard adjournment motion and a voice vote approving adjournment.