To: Members & Affiliates From: National Office Date: August 9, 2000 Subject: AMSA’S 2000 SERVICE CHARGE INDEX Reference: MU 00-7 Since 1986, AMSA has published the AMSA Index annually to track service charge increases as measured against the rate of inflation. AMSA’s membership plays an important role in the AMSA Index by providing the data necessary to quantify service charge increases and identify trends. The Index is representative of AMSA’s broad membership and is a valuable resource used by wastewater agencies across the nation.
The 1999 AMSA Index indicated that the rates customers pay for wastewater services increased only 1.2 percent nationwide, an amount 1 percent below the level of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index and 0.7 percent below last year’s national rate increase average. Annual average increases for the past five years have remained below 4 percent and have maintained an overall consistency with the annual inflation rate. The continued stabilization of rates in 1999 reflects the ongoing efforts of publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) to provide efficient services and to seek our the most competitive means of addressing wastewater treatment needs. This trend shows that POTWs remain committed to responding to their customers by economizing and keeping costs down.
Please take a moment to complete the attached 2000 Service Charge Index Survey form. If your agency has participated in the past, your responses are shown on the survey form along with the names of the person(s) who provided the information. If you determine that historical information is inaccurate, please feel free to modify these data directly on the survey form. Changes will be reflected in this year’s AMSA Index summary.
In order to ensure consistency, this survey form should, ideally, be completed by the same individual who submitted information for your agency in the past (refer to attached survey form for the names of your agency’s respondents). Please take a moment to complete the attached form and FAX it to Jon Schellpfeffer, Assistant Chief Engineer/Director of Administration, Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District, at 608/222-2703 no later than September 22, 2000. If you have any questions about the attached survey form or any of the historical data, please contact Jon Schellpfeffer at 608/222-1201 ext. 266 or jons@madsewer.org. Thank you for your prompt attention to this important request for data.