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Sewer and wastewater budgets show higher operating costs; city restores admin local share
Summary
Chicopee’s sewer and wastewater accounts requested higher special services and operational funding for chemicals, pump replacements and SRF fees; an administrative local-share charge that had been waived last year was restored for FY26.
Officials in wastewater and public utilities told the council June 23 that FY26 expenses have risen because of higher chemical and parts costs, needed pump replacements and loan administration fees tied to state revolving funds.
Why it matters: Increases in operating costs and restored administrative allocations are reflected in sewer and utility budgets and can translate into rate pressure for utility customers.
The public utilities presenter said the budget increases reflect actual higher costs for chemicals and lab testing and the anticipated need to replace aging pumps, citing a bisulfite pump and a CSO pump as likely near-term replacements. The department also said it expects SRF (State Revolving Fund) administration fees to raise special-account costs.
A year‑earlier waiver of the “admin local share” for water and sewer was reversed: councilors were told the mayor’s office had waived the fee in the prior year to relieve the utility, and for FY26 that allocation — which the presenter said is the department’s portion of city‑hall administrative support — returned as a $264,000 line item.
Pretreatment staff retirements were noted; two experienced pretreatment employees retired in recent months and the department said the roles were being covered short term by retirees working part time and by reallocating duties.
Councilors tentatively approved sewer and related budgets on roll call; the departments were asked to return with more detail on capital needs and fund‑balance targets.
