by Austin Thompson | Sep 16, 2020 | Financial Management, Risk and Resiliency to Climate Hazards
These are unprecedented times. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, social norms have changed and unemployment has risen sharply across the nation. As states have pushed residents to stay home, water usage patterns have altered for both commercial and residential...
by Austin Thompson | Aug 15, 2020 | Access to Water Funding Sources, Financial Management
Imagine a town called “Smallville.” Smallville, as you might guess, is small. The town’s water utility needs a new water tank, and they need it now. Like most systems across the US, Smallville’s system is aging and has significant infrastructure needs. Smallville...
by Austin Thompson | May 6, 2020 | Board/Elected Official Engagement, Financial Management
Municipal Bonds & COVID-19: What is going on? Prior to the outbreak of COVID-19 in the US, the municipal (“muni”) bond market was strong. Investors looking for a non-taxable rate of return were hungry for municipal bonds, driving interest rates down for borrowers...
by Austin Thompson | May 15, 2019 | Affordability, Financial Management, Rates
The 2019 North Carolina Water and Wastewater Rates Dashboard was deployed just over a month ago, marking another year in a long partnership between the Environmental Finance Center at UNC-Chapel Hill, the North Carolina League of Municipalities, and the North Carolina...