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Select Board approves 2025–26 water and sewer rates; average household bill rises about 2.65%
Summary
Following the utility commission’s budget process, the Select Board approved water and sewer rates for fiscal year 2025–26 that will raise an average single-family homeowner’s combined bill by about 2.65 percent; the sewer rate drives the increase while water rates hold steady.
The Northfield Select Board approved the fiscal-year 2025–26 water and sewer rates on May 27, adopting a rate package that town staff said would raise the average single-family homeowner’s combined utility bill by about 2.65 percent.
Jeff Schultz, the town manager, summarized the utilities’ budget and explained that the water rate itself was not increasing but the sewer rate was; the combined effect on a typical single-family bill is roughly a 2.65 percent increase, he said. The utility commission prepared the budgets in April and May and forwarded recommended rates to the Select Board for approval.
Schultz told the board that water usage and utility revenues have begun to rebound after declines during the COVID period and that the proposed rates did not rely on surplus or ARPA funds. A Select Board member asked for a full copy of the utility budgets; the manager said the omission of the budget printout from the meeting packet was an oversight and that members would receive the detailed budgets.
The board approved the rates by a recorded vote (5–0). The town will publish rate schedules and provide budget details to board members and the public.
