Austin Water nabs finance award

Austin Water has been recognized for its innovative debt management strategies, which have saved its customers almost $700 million over the past six years. According to a press release from the city, the Government Finance Officers Association, an industry group, praised the utility for its creative methods of “increasing affordability for customers, while improving and maintaining critical infrastructure for extreme weather and a growing population.” Joseph Gonzales, the utility’s assistant director of financial services, said in the release, “Striking a careful balance between investments in infrastructure while ensuring rates remain affordable is a common challenge for public utilities. Adding pressures such as the ongoing pandemic, spiraling costs of living, and effects of climate change, and the complexity of this challenge soars. Austin Water has been able to navigate these issues, making major investments to Austin’s water and wastewater system while not raising rates and even providing rate reductions to help customers during difficult times. We are deeply honored to be recognized for our work in this area.” Read more about the Award for Excellence in Government Finance here.