Elmsford reports water fund shortfall since 2021 and proposes seed funding for meter replacement

Village staff reported that the water fund showed negative balances dating to 2021 after revenues underperformed planned budgets and some capital charges hit operating results. The administrator said the recent audit numbers are included in the estimates and urged caution about further appropriations from fund balance until figures are finalized.

To address long‑term revenue loss, staff proposed increasing the water equipment seed from $50,000 to $100,000 in the tentative budget as initial funding for a meter‑replacement project or a performance contract. The administrator described options including a performance‑contract approach where a vendor finances meter replacement and is repaid from additional recovered revenue, or a capital project funded through a budget transfer or reserve appropriation.

Officials discussed practical steps: obtain engineering and procurement cost estimates, consider a phased replacement, and explore whether meter replacement costs can be tied to permits for new construction where appropriate. Staff will return with a project plan and legal review before committing to large capital outlays.