Salem council approves home-rule petition to update payments from South Essex Sewerage District

The Salem City Council on Jan. 9 voted unanimously to send a home-rule petition to the state that would change how the South Essex Sewerage District (SESD) pays the city for hosting district facilities.

Councilors said the existing payment schedule — a flat annual amount set by the Legislature in 1993 — has not been adjusted for inflation, leaving Salem with an estimated $6 million in lost revenue over three decades. The petition would phase an increase starting at $600,000 in 2025 and rising to $1,000,000 by 2029, after which payments would adjust annually with inflation by at least 2 percent, as described by council speakers.

Councilor Mousel called the situation “frustrating” and said the city has borne environmental and infrastructure burdens — including pipes, traffic and odor complaints — while other member communities benefit. He urged Salem residents and officials to press state legislators to act. Councilor Cohen, who attended a recent SESD board meeting, noted the facility is largely underground but warned of climate-related risk because of its waterfront location and encouraged outreach to members of the region’s legislative delegation.

The motion to send the home-rule petition to the Legislature was adopted by roll call; 11 councilors voted in the affirmative.

Why it matters: Council speakers framed the petition as a modest, corrective fiscal measure to compensate Salem for hosting a regional wastewater facility on waterfront land that imposes maintenance and climate-related costs on the city. The petition must be approved by the state legislature before payments change.

What’s next: The city will forward the petition to the state delegation; councilors urged residents to contact state senators and representatives in support of the change.