[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6201680,"mediaKeyId","3790094-19009701a42a6bd20f60c50a9e32a411","parentId",3790094,"title","Committee backs 18% solid-waste fee rise; majority of increase funded by general fund subsidy","audioSeconds",308,"startMs",557355,"endMs",865665,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3790094-19009701a42a6bd20f60c50a9e32a411&start=557&end=865","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3790094-19009701a42a6bd20f60c50a9e32a411/thumbnail_557355.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6201680/Salem-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Committee-backs-18-solid-waste-fee-rise-majority-of-increase-funded-by-general-fund-subsidy","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6201680-84d953f4aedd5a3cbbc6b5d95b5d1a9d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205354&Signature=nAoM7BuyIjnHPN49mILn-lqpDl7i1oGt9OSL75EdGHNDoSTl-NUcSRolIZRGcxWv-C7d1MEqFbrFLYFzH~aro-fqDqbvfCPsL7-CkGAoRg8eFNZoYMOK2OWx1J0oAVfEO53aL2DhgqtZ9MKLoJgt8EVsXPmyMlva1kRzAPPLmgYSkg-aqV0YYV9clkFOkx2DQrAuTeQ-y3cWyQdzIZxgzzpMdLUPYDMBXpj6lO7bZovti460DbSSmwR3QorosRJjfdqQXRcrL8~6-rx5rxeQvKMPygCtcZA9BOPitt8swd12J1guDk7vEn92ZejkwSLXjQ1s8xw4SK0gW3xFPz94yQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Salem City, MA","date","2025-06-13T04:55:18Z","article","Salem City’s Committee of the Whole voted unanimously to forward proposed solid‑waste fee increases for fiscal year 2026 to the full City Council after staff said the trash enterprise fund’s costs are rising by $765,055 and that the city intends to apply an 18% fee increase for FY26.

Staff member summarized the proposal as an 18% increase for FY26, larger than the prior annual increases (around 2.5%), and explained the city planned to maintain the existing proportional split between the general‑fund subsidy (77% of current revenue into the fund) and ratepayer payments (23%). Staff said that of the $765,055 total increase, $173,737 would be recovered from ratepayers and the rest via the subsidy. The specific fee changes presented were: owner‑occupied residential fee increasing from $21.86 to $25.79; non‑owner‑occupied (nonresidential) increasing from $1.3886 to $1.6385 (as read in the presentation); and commercial establishments increasing from $31.71 to $37.41.

Councilor Cohen moved to refer the solid‑waste fee changes to the full council with a positive recommendation; the motion carried on a 5-0 vote. Staff noted the subsidy portion (transfer from the general fund to the trash enterprise fund) is typically finalized when the tax rate is set in December, and the committee did not set that transfer at this meeting.

The committee’s action was a referral only; no final fee ordinance or tax-rate decision was adopted at the committee meeting. Staff offered to provide further budget detail if councilors had follow‑up questions before the item reaches the full council.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Committee on Ordinances, Licenses and Legal Affairs June 12th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Salem City’s Committee of the Whole voted 5-0 to forward an 18% increase in solid‑waste fees for FY26 to the full City Council after staff said enterprise‑fund costs are rising by $765,055 and that most of the fund’s revenue is currently covered by a general‑fund subsidy.","taxTitle","Salem City, Essex County, Massachusetts","taxId",70531,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6201685,"Committee forwards sewer-rate changes; staff warns FY27 revisit likely",59,313561,373121,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3790094-19009701a42a6bd20f60c50a9e32a411&start=313&end=373","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3790094-19009701a42a6bd20f60c50a9e32a411/thumbnail_313561.jpg","/articles/6201685/Salem-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Committee-forwards-sewer-rate-changes-staff-warns-FY27-revisit-likely","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6201685-f54dfe02afe08853089ba1b31b652325/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205354&Signature=SYgXfkXYB-TIV-eeW5qpglw3~8ysbtf2C9n7A3kzz8Kt-Lt~ZmdjONEvjmz~Ta7mvO9YrYHU4se0u4~gnBHNgFVFtZvWUTqLz7EYJbsISujQ0Eyd5aC9fQQoWfTaXiKrdeYvEKuj4UJpv9INbQEQ0qSe2vlMO2WqqctEjEKCSaMOaV0~OcZ90Tz-zMlI8IWOpLIiJuPTC3oWMYzB2OoVYcZWtreo2PQmcZwW48u32DbeuFxw7g6fssqaeRS-ZTJ66ypEJT2FhkYEGsugN3u7DL1pVR8AjERnJlLuIBIjrR0-BtXpcBlLo9B0AT23Ha2MT5fNOdGFS9wrwXQgtPu7fA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Salem City’s Committee of the Whole voted to refer proposed sewer-rate adjustments for fiscal year 2026 to the full City Council with a positive recommendation, while staff warned the committee that capital‑planning changes could require revisiting the assumptions for FY27 and beyond.

Staff member told the committee the sewer rates in the proposal increase by 3% consistent with the two‑year‑old rate study; staff added that the combined, cumulative effect of the proposed water and sewer changes is a 5% change. The presentation noted that some capital costs and assumptions have shifted — in part because the city used ARPA dollars for capital projects — and that potential capital needs at the sanitary/sewer district (referenced in the presentation as SCSD/SESD) and at the water board could push future rates higher.

Councilor Marcela moved to refer the sewer-rate ordinance to the full council with a positive recommendation; Councilor Cohen seconded the motion. The committee recorded a 5-0 vote to forward the item. Staff characterized any further changes as contingent on updated capital-planning assumptions and said the city would “revisit” the study for FY27 if needed.

No final rate ordinance was adopted at the committee meeting; the committee’s action was a referral. Staff did not present a definitive projection for FY27 increases, only that future adjustments are “likely up” depending on capital needs.","Salem City’s Committee of the Whole voted 5-0 to forward proposed sewer-rate increases for FY26 to the full City Council, while staff warned that changing capital assumptions could require revisiting rates for FY27 and beyond.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6201690,"Committee forwards 9% water rate increase to full council",182,54461,237451,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3790094-19009701a42a6bd20f60c50a9e32a411&start=54&end=237","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3790094-19009701a42a6bd20f60c50a9e32a411/thumbnail_54461.jpg","/articles/6201690/Salem-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Committee-forwards-9-water-rate-increase-to-full-council","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6201690-c0f4317c6a87e0bd661d0eb685a8f0af/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205354&Signature=gt7SwTrH8Ja5SZVNnKSuFLq58wHY-4-1b~t3LRioeAIPJw1kw1bzbM3qUyZwpw-iq2tTH6AuwLbA8U9S1LlDV78I4OIJ4NhFAN9Qh4M5IMcZ-ZMn8mlakB443MYrsA8l664V7QfUvLrN6OPSNOzeTe99JhjE4TyWMrY94CuGyEQiZ~q03M-~u6rMrtVdwfRd064Se~HioZNjchhKfIH~veWR6xqhb8YxZTFP-L5lLY1P4y~UrIgSLb7wKQI5CKRDXZrEhCBeZMfIUJqOB~wVPfkkg9g3jbNrwQySOJx19FMUmZCv7DNwDnoPtL8UYX-X5~HwoXme-UuTU4rV0pdL9Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Salem City’s Committee of the Whole recommended that the full City Council consider a 9% increase in water rates for fiscal year 2026 after staff said the change follows a rate study conducted two years ago and is intended to better match the water fund’s expenses.

Staff member said the proposed increase “is reflective of the water sewer rate study that was done 2 years ago” and that the sewer fund has been subsidizing the water fund; the 9% adjustment is intended to make the water fund more self-sufficient. Residential and nonresidential unit rates were listed in the proposal as $4.82 and $6.53, and the minimum quarterly charge for metered residential water was listed as $44.20 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Councilor Cohen moved that the committee refer the water-rate ordinance to the full council with a positive recommendation; the motion was seconded by Councilor Jerslow and carried on a 5-0 roll call. The item will return to the full council for final consideration and any formal adoption.

The staff presentation noted the proposal is “the exact same proposal as last year” and that the rate study’s recommended adjustments are being implemented now so rates reflect the water fund’s expenses rather than being subsidized by sewer. No ordinance adoption occurred at the committee meeting; the committee’s action was a referral with a positive recommendation only.

The committee did not specify additional changes to the rate structure beyond the percentages and dollar figures provided during the presentation. The staff member flagged that the increase mirrors last year’s referral and that the committee should review any future implications tied to underlying assumptions in the rate study when they are updated.","Salem City’s Committee of the Whole recommended sending a proposed 9% water rate increase for fiscal year 2026 to the full City Council with a positive recommendation after staff said the change aligns rates with a prior rate study and shifts costs so the water fund is more self-sufficient.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee backs 18% solid-waste fee rise; majority of increase funded by general fund subsidy

Committee forwards sewer-rate changes; staff warns FY27 revisit likely

Committee forwards 9% water rate increase to full council