The first version of the Upper Thompson Sanitation District 2025 budget showed budgeted expenses coming in slightly higher than the income expected for next year. The presentation was made at the UTSD regular board meeting on Oct. 15 by the district’s finance officer Gina Moore, who reported the proposed budget of nearly $56 million shows a predicted net loss of $678,906.
The significant increase over the 2024 adopted budget of approximately $6.5 million in income and $12 million in expenses, is due to capital infrastructure improvements slated for next year. The deficiency will be made up with the district’s fund balance.
Low-interest, fixed-rate loans received from the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act in the amount of $29.1 million and $16.1 million from the Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority, will provide the primary funding for a new membrane wastewater treatment plant and two lift stations, said Chris Bieker, the district’s manager. These loans will be supplemented with a district contribution of $3.1 million.
This new plant will replace the existing 50-year-old water reclamation facility which has had no major update during its operational lifespan and will improve the quality of water discharged back into the river. It will remove biological nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen, said the district’s operation manager, Matt Allen. “It will be like putting drinking water back into the river,” he said.
The district is currently undergoing a complicated process of design review and permit approvals before this project can go to bid in early 2025.
The budget is open for review by the UTSD board and the public, with comments to be referred to Director Chris Bieker by Nov. 14. A public hearing will be included in the UTSD’s regular board meeting on Nov. 19. To obtain a copy of the proposed 2025 budget, the public may inquire at the district’s headquarters, located at 2196 Mall Road in Estes Park, (970) 586-4544.
Other UTSD board news
Board member Mike Morton was appointed as assistant secretary and treasurer for the board, minutes from the September 17 board meeting were approved, a report on infrastructure repair and maintenance was presented by Nathaniel Romig, UTSD’s Collection Superintendent, and Allen announced upcoming local trainings for wastewater treatment operators.
The next regular board meeting of the UTSD will be held on Nov. 19 at 4 p.m. at the district’s headquarters. The public is invited to attend and participate in the public hearing on the proposed 2025 budget; those wishing to participate in the hearing virtually or by phone, may email a request for the meeting link or telephone number to gina@utsd.org by 2:00 p.m. on Nov. 19.