The Board of Commissioners at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) formally adopted a $1.8 billion budget to continue the MWRD’s critical work protecting the water environment for 5.19 million people living throughout Cook County.

“This balanced spending plan advances long-term environmental stewardship and supports ongoing permit compliance while investing in public infrastructure and flood mitigation,” said MWRD President Kari K. Steele. “With dozens of stormwater management projects and critical upgrades at MWRD water reclamation plants, the MWRD is putting taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars to work to protect the region’s water environment and expand climate resilience.” 

The MWRD Board of Commissioners formally adopted the budget on Dec. 18. New for the 2026 budget, the MWRD introduced an interactive online budget dashboard at mwrd.org. The budget is supported by a total tax levy of $755.7 million that affords the MWRD the resources to treat wastewater from homes and businesses in Chicago and 128 surrounding municipalities and serve as the regional stormwater authority for Cook County. The MWRD’s share of the 2026 estimated property tax for a $350,000 home is approximately $368, about $1 per day for an essential service. These important funds help the MWRD adapt to its evolving role in meeting the challenges of climate change, unpredictable stormwater flows and emerging contaminants and pollutants that threaten the environment.

“The 2026 budget continues our conservative fiscal management and includes the policies, objectives, and resources to allow the MWRD to remain true to our mission of protecting our water environment and the health of the residents of Cook County,” said Vice President Patricia Theresa Flynn, chairperson on the MWRD Committee on Budget and Employment. “We welcomed staff and public input and thank everyone for their collaboration in implementing the projects and technology needed to meet this budget.”

The 2026 budget includes a Corporate Fund appropriation of $532.8 million to cover day-to-day operating costs and a Capital Improvement Program appropriation of $855.3 million which includes the construction costs for modernizing aging infrastructure, modifying phosphorus removal operations, rehabilitating two intercepting sewers, building a new treatment facility at the MWRD’s O’Brien Water Reclamation Plant, and addressing stormwater management projects among other priorities. The 2026 Stormwater Management Fund Budget is $96.7 million, investing in flood control projects and supporting local stormwater issues. Since receiving authority to partner on local projects in 2014, the MWRD has completed nearly 290 projects that protect more than 19,000 homes, businesses and other buildings throughout Cook County. 

The 2026 budget aligns with the goals, strategies and initiatives outlined in the MWRD’s five-year Strategic Plan that promotes engagement, collaboration, equity, innovation and resilience. The 2021-2025 Strategic Plan concluded its fourth year in June 2025 and is approximately 90 percent completed, with over 140 action plans reaching every facet of the MWRD. Plans are underway to develop a new five-year plan, building off survey input from area residents and MWRD staff, commissioners and stakeholders.

In 2026, more than $12.9 million is allocated to new projects that support one of the five Strategic Plan goals comprised of stormwater management, resource management, enterprise resilience, community engagement and workforce excellence.

“Our strong financial stewardship and fiscal oversight allow us to invest in key Strategic Plan priorities and daily operations in wastewater treatment, stormwater management, and climate resilience projects that serve more than 5 million residents living in Chicago and 128 municipalities across Cook County,” said MWRD Chairman of Finance Marcelino Garcia. “We have also made long-term investments to address our Retirement Fund to better protect future generations at the MWRD.”

The MWRD is planning to break ground on a new battery at its O’Brien Water Reclamation Plant (left) to meet new permits to remove phosphorus from wastewater, while in Oak Lawn (right), the MWRD is planning to partner with Community High School District 218 to build stormwater storage improvements and sewer upgrades to reduce local flooding.

The 2026 budget includes a $10 million transfer from the 2024 Property Tax Levy Adjustment to maintain the MWRD’s Retirement Fund. From 2020 to 2025, the MWRD contributed $152.8 million in advance funding to the MWRD Retirement Fund. The MWRD’s Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) Trust is fully funded thanks to solid investment returns and asset growth. 

To protect the region’s water environment, the MWRD controls 76 miles of navigable waterways and owns and operates seven water reclamation plants, 560 miles of intercepting sewers, 23 pumping stations, 34 stormwater detention reservoirs, and 110 miles of deep tunnel and three connecting combined sewer reservoirs that are part of the MWRD’s famed Tunnel and Reservoir Plan, one of the largest public works projects on earth working to protect water quality and mitigate flooding.

In the fall, Fitch Ratings reaffirmed the MWRD’s current AAA credit rating with a stable outlook, and Moody’s Ratings reaffirmed the MWRD’s rating of Aa1 also with a stable outlook. Additionally, the MWRD maintains a stable AA+ rating from S&P Global Ratings. In 2025, the MWRD received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for the 49th consecutive year. The GFOA has also recognized the MWRD with a Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for 40 consecutive years. The GFOA also recognized the MWRD Retirement Fund and the MWRD Retiree Health Care Trust with the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for 31 and 17 consecutive years, respectively.