Gaining funding support FOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMS

Abstract

This article presents a case study to illustrate how Portsmouth, Virginia, with portions of water infrastructure dating back to the late 1800s, used water utility management, operations, financial planning, and public relations to deal with its own infrastructure challenge. Even though confronted with extensive city redevelopment, a declining population, loss of jobs, and a limited tax base, the city managed to rally the support of its local government and citizens to raise rates and tackle a backlog of infrastructure projects. The city was successful because of its holistic, interactive, optimized, and well‐communicated approach. As the authors point out, an infrastructure revitalization plan must be consistent with a city's overall goals and objectives, recognize rehabilitation and growth needs, include the effect of regulations, provide a long‐term financial forecasting perspective, address long‐term rates and competitiveness issues, and provide a set of tools for ongoing planning. As Portsmouth found out, such a strategic financial plan can afford a water utility and its community several direct and immediate benefits.