BOS approves new water-sewer rates for FY15
By Mike BergerCanton homeowners can expect to pay an average of $68 more per year, or $17 more quarterly, as a result of new water and sewer rates approved by selectmen for the next fiscal year beginning July 1.
While water rates are actually decreasing, the sewer rate is rising sharply. Doug Gardner, president of Pioneer Consulting Group, the firm advising the town’s Water/Sewer Rate & Policy Committee, said the average combined increase for a typical homeowner who uses 2,300 cubic feet of water per quarter will be $17.29 per quarter, representing an overall increase of 6.08 percent. Actual bills may vary depending on water and sewer usage.
Less dependence on the Mass. Water Resources Authority (MWRA) and reduced consumption of water by residents because of in-town water supplies led to the decrease in water rates as well as a decrease in the MWRA assessment by $422,626. Gardner said the water enterprise fund is financially strong, which bodes well for the water budget and future capital projects.
The opposite is true for the sewer rates. A debt service increase, a rise of nearly $90,000 in the MWRA assessment, rising expenses, and a new sewer rate model, which uses a lower percentage of Canton resident dependence (67 percent rather than 75 percent), are factors in the sewer rate increase.
The cost of a gallon of water in Canton is 1.03 cents per gallon, down from 1.08 cents last year. The cost per gallon of sewerage has risen from 1.21 cents last year to 1.42 cents per gallon this year.
DPW Superintendent Mike Trotta said the state Department of Environmental Protection is still urging cities and towns to implement water conservation and consumption measures.
In another Water Department matter, Trotta announced that all residential and commercial water meters will be replaced beginning this summer, and owners will have to make an appointment with USI Services of Bourne (www.usiservices.com). Additional details will be published in the May 8 Canton Citizen.
See this week’s Canton Citizen for more highlights from the April 29 selectmen’s meeting.
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=25240
Posted by Mike Berger
on May 1 2014. Filed under News, Town Government.
Both comments and pings are currently closed.
