Guest Editorial

Bringing water, sewer loan program back a good idea

Ottawa County Sanitary Engineer
Reinstating the Ohio Water and Sewer Rotary Loan Program is vital to expanding Ohio’s rural public water and sanitary sewer systems.
The purpose of the OW&SRLP was to provide no-interest loan funding to counties, municipalities and water and sewer districts on behalf of agricultural district land owners to defer special assessments relating to water and sewer extension projects.
The loans were offered for an indefinite term provided the agricultural district designation of the property was maintained.
The following is a list of benefits that substantiates the importance of re-instating the OW&SRLP:
- The OW&SRLP will target funding to projects that reduce documented health and environmental issues in rural areas contributing to the overall wellbeing and potential future development of those areas without negatively impacting agriculture.
- The OW&SRLP will provide critical gap financing for agricultural properties impacted by special assessment projects making necessary rural water and sewer projects more affordable and viable.
- The OW&SRLP will support Ohio EPA’s Regionalization Initiative by financially enabling rural communities to join larger more stable water and sewer systems.
- The OW&SRLP will also enhance master planning efforts and options for future industrial growth and development.
- The OW&SRLP will reduce the financial burden placed upon existing homes and businesses by providing no-interest loan funds for deferred agricultural district assessments until such time that the agricultural property is actually developed.
- The OW&SRLP will promote much needed public water and sewer projects in rural Low to Moderate Income (LMI) areas by deferring agricultural district assessments that would otherwise be paid for by the LMI homeowners.
- The OW&SRLP will enable economic expansion, business development, job growth and increases in housing opportunities throughout rural areas by funding deferred agricultural assessments allowing many more rural water and sewer projects to become financially viable.
- The OW&SRLP, once re-established, would be self-perpetuating through the recoupment of deferred agricultural district assessments that are collected when the agricultural parcel changes use.
- The OW&SRLP will promote affordable housing in rural areas by providing financial assistance to sanitary sewer assessment projects that will eliminate the need for costly on-lot sewage system upgrades thereby providing a permanent solution to the sanitary needs of the area.
-The OW&SRLP will help to provide rural communities with access to clean water and efficient sanitary sewer systems which are essential for public health, quality of life, and economic development.

Editor’s note: State representative D.J. Swearingen has introduced a bill in the legislature that would re-establish the Water and Sewer Rotary Loan program. House Bill 635 has been assigned to the State and Local Government Committee.