THE PROPOSAL FOR ASCENSION PARISH
Ascension Sewer has developed a comprehensive proposal which was presented as a Construction and Operating Agreement between Ascension Consolidated Utility District #2 (ACUD #2) and Ascension Sewer which offers the Parish the ability to retain ownership and ultimate control of the existing and new sewer system as a public asset - this is not a sale or privatization. As a public utility, the Parish would also retain oversight of performance and rate-making authority. Ascension Sewer would receive revenues from system operations over a 30-year timeframe.
Ascension Sewer would be responsible for all operating expenses and capital investment, and would execute the plan for the first phase for building the connections to a new water treatment plant located near the Mississippi River in the northwest portion of the Parish at a cost of more than $215 million, providing coverage to nearly 19,500 customers and significantly reducing flows into Bayou Manchac. This means that residents won’t have to front the capital with public funds or vote on a bond to make these required and needed system improvements.
The comprehensive plan, which optimizes the efforts of prior plans and was developed at Ascension Sewer's own expense, provides as much coverage as possible to citizens in a manner that stabilizes future rate increases. The final plan includes a detailed cost and rate structure, as well as wastewater treatment plant and system construction plans. This proposal has been independently evaluated by Ernst and Young and fully vetted by Parish leadership.
An economic benefit analysis that examines the benefits and costs associated with the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (CEA) with Ascension Sewer conducted by Dr. James Richardson finds that this proposal would result in an automatic increase of $4.1 million within the parish budget to cover other needs, without any increase in taxes or fees or without any reason to downsize other programs because the parish would no longer need to transfer $4.1 million annually (as it has over the last five years) to support its sewer and water operations and capital needs. The report can be accessed here
