Homeowners’ water-sewer bills set to rise next month

By Mike Berger

Beginning next month, Canton property owners should expect to see a sizable bump in their water-sewer bills following the approval of rate hikes at Tuesday night’s Select Board meeting.

Canton Finance Director Randy Scollins, chair of the Water-Sewer Rate Policy Committee, outlined the committee’s recommendation, which called for a blended rate increase of 10 percent, including a 27 percent hike in water rates and no change to the sewer rate.

For a typical residential user consuming 15 cubic feet of water, that translates to an annual increase of $85.22, with smaller increases projected for FY25 ($4.01) and FY26 ($20.36).

Scollins said a combination of factors has led to the depletion of the town’s Water Enterprise Fund, including declining water consumption, increased MWRA assessments (33.2 percent in FY23 and 23 percent in FY24), and increased debt service costs, which account for 38 percent of water enterprise expenses.

Scollins said the rate increase is designed to stabilize the Water Enterprise Fund balance — which is projected to be close to zero in FY24 — while also supporting a transition toward a higher level of cash funding for capital improvement projects, which have historically relied on debt financing.

Scollins said the Sewer Enterprise Fund has been able to maintain a strong financial position even without significant rate increases, and the same is expected for next year as well.

Select Board members said they were shocked to see the new rates and faulted the Water-Sewer Rate Advisory Committee for the lack of advanced warning. They agreed that going forward, any proposed increases should be communicated to the board in January or February rather than in June. Select Board member John Connolly said he is concerned about the impacts to elderly and low-income residents and asked the advisory committee and Town Administrator Charles Doody to see if there are any state or federal grants available for assistance.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, the Select Board heard an update from Interim Town Planner Gene Manning, Affordable Housing Coordinator Kevin Shea, and consultant Jeff Davis on the new multi-family zoning requirements in the MBTA Communities Act.

Davis explained that Canton is considered a Commuter Rail Community, and based on state guidelines it will need to establish multi-family zoning spanning a minimum of 50 acres with a minimum gross density of 15 units per acre and a minimum housing capacity of 1,490 units. The law requires the zoning to be in place by December 31, 2024 …

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