To: Members & Affiliates*
From: National Office
Date: August 17, 1999
Subject: AMSA's 1999 Service Charge Index
Reference: MU 99-7

Action Please By: September 24, 1999

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 financial information on individual agencies. The Index is representative of AMSA's broad membership and is a valuable resource used by wastewater agencies across the nation.

The 1998 AMSA Index indicated that the rates customers pay for wastewater services increased only 2.3 percent nationwide, marking the fourth consecutive year of stabilization in sewer service rates across the nation. The 2.3 percent increase was only 0.7 percent above the level of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index and 0.4 percent above 1997's national rate increase average. Annual average increases for the past four years have remained below 4 percent and have maintained an overall consistency with the annual inflation rate. The continued stabilization of rates in 1998 reflects the ongoing efforts of POTWs to provide efficient services and to seek our the most competitive means of addressing wastewater treatment needs.

Please take a moment to complete the attached 1999 Service Charge Index Survey form. If your agency has participated in the past surveys, 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, Chair of AMSA's Finance & Information Services Committee at 608/222-2703 no later than September 24, 1999. If you have any questions about the attached survey form or any of the historical data, please call Jon Schellpfeffer at 608/222-1201 ext. 266. Thank you for your prompt attention to this important request for data.

* This MU Provided to Affiliates For Information Only

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