Round Hill Council to Take 24% Utility Rate Increase to Public Hearing

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

The Round Hill Town Council last week voted to advertise a 24% increase in its water and sewer rates for fiscal year 2024. The action followed a three-month review of its utility system needs, including more than $12 million in capital project planned over the next five years.

The town generally has operated with lower rates than Loudoun’s other municipalities, as the revenue from new development covered many of the utility system’s expansion costs. With approved developments reaching build-out, the town expects far less revenue from new connection fees. At the same time, it is planning a number of big-ticket construction projects—including a maintenance upgrade at the wastewater treatment plant, the addition of a new high-yield well, building a new water treatment plant and construction of a second water storage tank.

The town’s fiscal policies require utility fund reserves to cover at least 12 months of operating and debt service costs, as well

Round Hill Gears

Up for Festival

Round Hill’s annual Hometown Festival returns Saturday with a full day of family activities.

In addition to the event’s traditional staples—including a 5K race, parade, pie-eating contest, downhill derby, and live music—this year’s program includes a special tribute during the Memorial Day ceremony.

The town will formally dedicate the first memorials included in its Veterans Memorial Paver program. Installed at the park’s flagpole, the pavers honor individuals from the Round Hill community who served or are serving in the United States Armed Services. Each year newly engraved pavers will be installed prior to the wreath being laid at the hometown festival.

The Memorial Day program begins at 10:45 a.m.

as to pay at least 25% cash for capital projects. In recent years, fueled by a strong stream of new connection fees, reserves have grown to more than two years of coverage even as cash was used for most utility upgrades.

The town is in the process of securing its first debt financing in several years, a $2.5 million bank placement bond. That’s expected to be followed by $7 million in additional borrowing through 2027.

After reviewing a number of rate increase options compiled by Mayor Scott Ramsey in coordination with the town’s financial advisors, Davenport and Company, the Town Council had narrowed its consideration to two.

The first, what has become known as the pull-the-Band Aid-off option, calls for a 24% increase starting July 1, followed by 5% annual rate increase over the subsequent four years.

The second option was for a 15% increase this year and another 15% increase in 2024, followed by three years of 5% increases.

In a straw poll at the May 17 meeting, three council members favored the 24% plan and two preferred the 15% option. They agreed to advertise the 24% option for a public hearing scheduled for June 7. The council is scheduled to take a final vote on its fiscal year 2024 budget and the utility rates on June 14.

According to the town’s calculations, a 24% increase on average would add $38 to the bi-monthly bills of in-town customers and $57 for out-of-town customers. In subsequent years, the bi-monthly bills would be expected to increase about $10 for in-town users and $16 for out-of-town users.

If the 24% increases enacted, starting July 1 the bi-monthly bill for an in-town customer using 150 gallons per day would be $210—slightly more than Leesburg residents, about the same as Hamilton residents, and lower than Lovettsville, Purcellville, and Middleburg.

For out-of-town residents, a $315 bill for the average user would be higher than the other towns expect for Middleburg. Middleburg is the highest, with a $358 bill at a rate of $150 gallons per day. n

HAMILTON County Seeks Public Input on Path Project

Loudoun County will hold an online public meeting on the Harmony Middle School Shared-Use Path project.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 7, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. via WebEx. Members of the public are invited to join the virtual meeting to learn, ask questions and provide input about the project.

Meeting details, including login information, are available at loudoun.gov/HarmonyPath.

The project includes the design and construction of a shared-use path, sidewalk and drainage improvements along the north side of West Colonial Highway. The path is proposed to extend from the existing path near Green Top Drive, just east of Rt. 287 in Purcellville, to North Reid Street. The shared-use path will then transition to a sidewalk at North Reid Street and continue to the existing sidewalk east of South Hughes Street in Hamilton.

Comments will be accepted through June 21, 2023, on the online comment form at loudoun. gov/HarmonyPath; by mail to Carmine Parascandola, Loudoun County Department of Transportation & Capital Infrastructure, 101 Blue Seal Drive, Leesburg, VA, 20177; or by email. Reference “Harmony Middle School Shared Use Path” in the subject line.

Lovettsville

Summer on the Green is Back

The town is kicking off its first Summer on the Green movie of the year at the close of Mayfest on Saturday, May 27.

“The Sandlot” will be starting around 8 p.m. at the Walker Pavilion on the Town Green and families are welcome to bring chairs,

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Brzezynski Tapped for Round Hill Council Vacancy

Following a round of closed-session interviews with three applicants, the Round Hill Town Council on May 17 voted to appoint Dan Brzezynski to fill its vacant seat.

Brzezynski is a civil engineer who moved to town seven years ago from Arlington. During his remarks to the council during the public portion of the meeting, he highlighted his experience in construction as well as working with town codes and regulations.

That experience could be particularly important as Council member Michael Hummel, a mechanical engineer who works in the real estate and development industries, announced he will not seek a new term. Hummel has served on the council since 2006.

Brzezynski will serve until November when a special election will be held to fill the remaining two years of the term of former Council member Jesse Howe, who moved out of town.

The appointment was unusual in that three residents applied for consideration. The town typically faces difficulty recruiting members for its six-member council even during elections, when write-in votes often are needed to fill the seats.

Also offering to serve were Brianne Austin and Jim Maulfair.

Mayor Scott Ramsey encouraged all three to stay involved with the town government and to file to be candidates in the November elections. On that ballot, voters will be filling five seats. Howe’s term will be filled in a special election and three council seats as well as the mayor’s seat will be on the regular ballot.

In addition to Hummel, the terms of Vice Mayor Mary Anne Graham and council member Isaac Pacheco expire Dec. 31.

Pacheco has committed to running in the election. He was appointed to a vacant seat last June.

Vice Mayor Mary Anne Graham, Loudoun County’s longest serving elected official, said Wednesday that she had not yet decided to seek another four-year term. She was first elected to the council in 1983. n