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Water and Sewer Commission seeks modest increase, cites Greater Lawrence Sanitary District assessment and capital projects
Summary
Water and Sewer Commissioner William Hale presented an FY26 enterprise budget with a small net increase and called out rising sanitary-district assessments and planned state revolving-fund capital borrowing. The committee asked for details on intergovernmental assessments and ongoing capital loan schedules.
William Hale, commissioner of Water & Sewer for the City of Lawrence, presented the enterprise’s proposed fiscal 2026 budget on May 29, requesting a $21.9 million appropriation, a modest increase over FY25.
Hale said part of the increase reflects higher intergovernmental assessments, including payments to the Greater Lawrence Sanitary District; the department is incrementally increasing its budgeted amount so it does not rely on retained earnings if assessments rise. He also noted debt-service adjustments: one loan recently paid off reduced debt-service by about $240,000, while a recent loan authorization for roughly $13 million for capital projects will increase borrowing once projects are completed.
Commissioner Hale said the department needs an in-house finance officer position to manage reconciliations and billing for a $22 million utility operation; the role will work with the comptroller’s office. The department also requested a motor equipment operator in sewer operations and expects ongoing equipment-repair and carbon-filter contracts to continue as capital and operating costs.
The committee requested a full debt schedule and the water/sewer capital plan, plus documentation on Greater Lawrence Sanitary District assessments and any expected credits. Commissioners said they would coordinate with the comptroller and provide a breakdown of other-purchase-services charges such as software, GIS, and meter-reading customer portals.
