By Jaidyn Steinbrecher
Susquehanna University has reached a settlement with Selinsgrove Borough Council, ending a lengthy dispute over under-billed water usage that frequently caused tension between the two sides.
Under an agreement finalized in April 2026, the university will pay the borough $156,800 for water usage that was not fully billed due to meter and administrative errors dating back to 2019. Borough officials said faulty meters and human error contributed to the issue.
Initially, the borough claimed the university owed approximately $181,874 in unpaid water bills, along with more than $45,000 in late fees and penalties. The borough argued that regardless of how the error occurred, the water was still used, and taxpayers should not be responsible for the cost.
In an effort to avoid legal action, the borough council previously approved a proposed four-year payment plan that would have allowed the university to pay the balance in quarterly installments of about $11,367. As part of that proposal, all late fees and interest would have been waived. Borough officials described the offer as a compromise that recognized the unusual circumstances while protecting local taxpayers.
Susquehanna University rejected the proposal, maintaining that it paid every bill it received and relied on the borough’s billing system and meter readings. University officials said they were never properly charged for the water at the time it was used and argued the responsibility for the mistake lies with the borough. The university later made a lower counteroffer, though the amount was not publicly disclosed. Read more about the background of this issue here.
The disagreement surfaced repeatedly during borough council meetings and affected other interactions between the two entities. At one point, requests from the university, including permission to hang Welcome Home, Commencement and Homecoming banners on Market Street, became part of the debate. Two councilors initially opposed the banner request, citing the unresolved water bill, though the request ultimately passed. Read more about this specific issue here.
As discussions stalled, borough officials acknowledged the issue had been reviewed in executive sessions and with legal counsel, but no formal action was taken for months. At a March 12 borough council meeting, council President Scott Frost reported that the dispute remained unresolved at the time, with no new timeline or plan announced.
The April settlement avoids further legal action and brings an end to months of debate and closed-door negotiations. Officials on both sides said the agreement should ease tensions and allow the borough and university to move forward with renewed cooperation.