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Yarmouth joins Cape calls to remove new limits in draft SRF intended-use plan, warns proposal could stall wastewater work
Summary
Select Board approved sending letters to the state opposing draft changes to the State Revolving Fund intended-use plan that would cap project awards and restrict carryover, arguing the changes would undermine Cape Cod wastewater programs and burden local taxpayers.
The Yarmouth Select Board on Feb. 25 unanimously approved letters to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the governor opposing draft changes to the State Revolving Fund (SRF) intended-use plan.
Town staff and Jeff (town project lead) briefed the board on a draft SRF intended-use plan circulated by DEP that would cap individual project funding at $50 million and restrict the ability to carry funds across years. The board and town staff said the proposals appeared in the DEP's draft without prior local consultation and would be especially damaging to Cape Cod communities, where wastewater projects are large and multi-year.
Yarmouth noted that its Phase 1 wastewater program was voter-approved at $207 million and that the town had been ranked highly on a prior SRF list; the proposed SRF changes, speakers said, would make multi-year projects harder to finance, could force scope reductions and risk higher overall costs. The Select Board described the proposed limits as a change of the rules mid-process and asked staff to pursue an aggressive Cape-wide response.
The board voted to send two letters: one to DEP requesting removal of the $50 million cap and the carryover restrictions, and a second to the governor asking for state-level support to preserve SRF program terms that enable comprehensive waterfront and watershed projects on Cape Cod. The board instructed staff to coordinate with Cape and Islands Water Protection Fund partners, county commissioners and area municipalities.
Select Board members and staff said the March 3 public-comment deadline for the draft intended-use plan made it urgent to submit local views. Several board members described the proposal as likely to slow or stall wastewater construction on the Cape and to shift costs to local taxpayers.
The motion to send the letters passed unanimously, and the town administrator said she would circulate the letters and request broader Cape Cod sign-on support from neighboring towns and regional partners.
