气候变化领域集成服务门户(CCPortal): Fiscal institutions and racial equity: Determining the price of water

CCPortal

DOI	10.1111/pbaf.12361
	Fiscal institutions and racial equity: Determining the price of water
	Albrecht, Kate; Carroll, Deborah A.; Kass, Amanda; Michnick, Jason; Wetmore, Brooke
发表日期	2024
ISSN	0275-1100
EISSN	1540-5850
英文摘要	Municipal water utilities across the United States establish their own rate structures to cover operations, maintenance, depreciation, and outstanding debt repayment. Yet, little is known about how rates are determined to ensure equity and/or affordability. To identify sources of variation in residential drinking water rates, we examine municipalities in northeastern Illinois, 2015-2019. Controlling for water utility characteristics, billing structures, financial management, service quality, and demographic/socioeconomic factors, we find no statistically significant correlations between water rates and median household income or race when nonrevenue water from leaking infrastructure is considered, revealing relative racial equity in water pricing within these communities. A larger water distribution network, more water included in the base charge, and a greater number of months in the billing cycle are all associated with lower rates. Purchasing water through an individual or cooperative agreement, a greater proportion of nonrevenue water from leaking infrastructure, a higher minimum monthly base charge, and more revenue debt outstanding (while controlling for nonrevenue water) are all associated with higher rates. We also find a positive correlation between municipal sewer rates and drinking water rates that supports findings from prior research. Overall, our research aids in the development of public policy that ensures all households have access to affordable and safe drinking water to promote water equity and public health. Our study reveals relative racial equity in municipal drinking water pricing among northeastern Illinois communities, and that rate differentials are more attributable to the state of infrastructure in the supply network. A cooperative purchasing strategy in the wholesale market is associated with slightly lower rates relative to an individualistic approach to purchasing, which highlights a potential benefit of cooperative purchasing as the ability of members to share capital costs for supply infrastructure. The balancing act between affordability and cost recovery in drinking water rate setting will continue to be an important political and policy issue as climate change impacts utilities' access to drinking water sources. In addition to understanding the drivers behind water costs, it is also important to examine how this information is communicated to consumers to gain insight into the transparency around the cost of providing clean drinking water.
语种	英语
WOS研究方向	Public Administration
WOS类目	Public Administration
WOS记录号	WOS:001205583700001
来源期刊	PUBLIC BUDGETING AND FINANCE
文献类型	期刊论文
条目标识符	http://gcip.llas.ac.cn/handle/2XKMVOVA/305041
作者单位	University of Illinois System; University of Illinois Chicago; University of Illinois Chicago Hospital; DePaul University
推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714	Albrecht, Kate,Carroll, Deborah A.,Kass, Amanda,et al. Fiscal institutions and racial equity: Determining the price of water[J],2024.
APA	Albrecht, Kate,Carroll, Deborah A.,Kass, Amanda,Michnick, Jason,&Wetmore, Brooke.(2024).Fiscal institutions and racial equity: Determining the price of water.PUBLIC BUDGETING AND FINANCE.
MLA	Albrecht, Kate,et al."Fiscal institutions and racial equity: Determining the price of water".PUBLIC BUDGETING AND FINANCE (2024).