The Nantucket Select Board voted unanimously July 16 to adopt amended tiered sewer rates after a continued public hearing and additional modeling requested by a board member.

The vote follows a continuation from July 7 and a revised rate model presented to account for a small contribution from all customers. The board approved the revised schedule and set an initial effective date for usage beginning Aug. 1 (billed in September) and a second phase effective Jan. 1, 2026 (billed in February 2026).

Sewer department staff said the revised proposal would change the 5/8- and 3/4-inch meter base rate to $46 and set tier 1 at $9.70 per CCF, with other tiers adjusted slightly. The presenter also said the change affects only the sewer portion of customers’ bills and “this does not touch the water rates whatsoever.” The town will delay the first billing implementation to allow communications staff time for public outreach.

The board closed the hearing after a brief attempt by a member of the public, Campbell Sutton, to speak remotely (audio problems prevented her remarks). A motion to close the hearing passed on a roll-call vote with Malcolm McNabb, Tom Dixon, Brooke Moore and Don Holgate voting aye. The motion to accept the amended sewer rates with the effective dates as outlined in the packet then passed on a unanimous roll-call vote.

Board members and staff said they had asked Hazen and Sawyer to re-run modeling to spread a modest portion of the increase across more accounts. Town staff also said a five-year pro forma for the sewer department is underway to inform fiscal 2027 budgeting.

The vote adopts the amended rates as provided in the meeting packet; the packet contains the full rate tables and implementation schedule.