Acton OKs 6.5% Sewer Rate Increase for FY2026; average homeowner to pay about $5.27 more per month

The Acton Select Board, sitting as the Sewer Commissioners, approved a 6.5% increase in sewer rates for fiscal year 2026 on June 16, 2025. The increase applies across residential, commercial and school rate classes and is intended to bolster reserves and prepare the sewer enterprise fund to assume debt service tied to planned facility rehabilitation.

Budget Manager Ellie Anderson told commissioners the finance office had reviewed the enterprise fund and that “operating costs have increased” and, using the adopted methodology, recommended “a 6 and a half percent increase across all rate classes.” She translated that into customer impacts: “$5.27 more per month for the average single family residential customer, $19.11 more per month for the average commercial customer, and then, a $112.43 on the average school sewer bill.”

Anderson said the increase helps the fund reach a reserve target of about 50% of annual operating costs and prepares the fund to carry roughly $250,000 a year in debt service once the wastewater treatment facility rehabilitation project and an equalization tank move to being paid from this fund (the consultant and borrowing authorization were referenced in the presentation). She also noted a roughly $145,000 (13%) jump in operating budget year-over-year, driven largely by a new operations contract bid and some transfers of personnel costs into the enterprise fund.

Select Board members asked for more detail. Jim sought specifics on the drivers of the 13% operating increase; Anderson pointed to the recent bid for the treatment plant operator contract and to personnel cost reallocations. Alicia asked whether the school monthly figure was for the whole district or a single building; Anderson replied it was an average across the district accounts. Several commissioners pressed on the longer-term effect of sustained annual increases: Anderson and others explained the 6.5% figure is the level that, when applied annually through about 2032, allows the fund to absorb the planned debt service while maintaining reserves.

After discussion, Fran moved to approve the FY2026 sewer rates as presented; the motion was seconded and approved by the board. The board recorded the motion and agreed to revisit the fund and rates annually as the rehabilitation work and debt schedule become clearer.

What’s next: The rate change takes effect July 1 for FY2026 billing. Staff said they will continue to update commissioners on contract and project schedules tied to the treatment plant rehabilitation and equalization tank work.