Uxbridge board approves FY26 water-rate plan, meters septage at 12¢ per gallon

The Town of Uxbridge Select Board, acting as water and sewer commissioners, voted June 23 to adopt a water‑rate model for fiscal 2026 that uses Scenario 3 and applies a 16% rate increase next year. The board also approved switching septage billing from an assumed‑volume method to metered gallons and set the interim septage charge at 12¢ per gallon while removing a planned wastewater‑facility roof replacement from the near‑term capital plan.

Consultant Joshua Bouchard of Tye and Bond told the board the study balances anticipated revenues, expenditures, capital projects and debt and that capital spending is “what is really driving the Town of Uxbridge water and sewer rates.” He said the water enterprise currently faces about $35,000,000 in capital projects and the sewer enterprise about $4,000,000. Bouchard described alternatives showing the trade‑offs of lower up‑front increases versus steady multi‑year increases and noted a large debt payment tied to the mandated water treatment plant would spike costs in FY28.

Why it matters: the board’s choice is intended to preserve minimum enterprise reserves while meeting impending debt service tied to the treatment plant. Commissioners stressed they want to protect retained earnings to avoid emergency shortfalls and future surcharges, while also asking staff to continue exploring affordability measures for vulnerable households.

Septage billing and hauler feedback: staff and consultants recommended moving from the longstanding practice of billing septage on an assumed 80% truck volume to billing actual metered gallons. To offset the higher measured volumes, the study modeled lowering the per‑gallon charge; the board settled on a metered charge of 12¢ per gallon as a compromise between revenue stability and customer/hauler impacts. Consultant Bouchard summarized the change as moving from “13¢ per gallon to 11¢ per gallon” in one modeled alternative, and staff showed that billing at full metered volumes at current cent‑per‑gallon rates would materially raise gross septage revenue compared with the prior accounting method.

Haulers and public comment: local hauler John Gibson told commissioners that if disposal rates rise too far, truck operators will take loads to other facilities, and warned that higher fees can make it harder for small customers and elderly residents to afford required pumping. A public commenter representing local senior and low‑income housing projects told the board that a large rate jump could imperil operations at some multi‑unit, single‑meter buildings. The board directed staff to consider practical mitigation measures (for example, irrigation meters, targeted affordability programs and potential billing mechanics for multi‑unit meters) and to return with options.

Board action and next steps: Selectman Wise moved and Selectman Plasco seconded the water‑rate motion adopting Scenario 3 with a 16% FY26 increase; the board approved the measure by voice vote. The board then voted to adopt the sewer scenario that removes the wastewater roof capital expenditure and to convert septage billing to a metered 12¢ per gallon, with the overall sewer rate model adjusted accordingly (the board noted the sewer impact is roughly a mid‑point between previously modeled alternatives). Commissioners said they will revisit rates annually, collect metering data from the septage facility, and consider delaying implementation details for haulers to allow notice and operational transition.

Affordability work remains unresolved: commissioners repeatedly discussed a targeted affordability program or senior discount, with consultants noting the modeling exercise used a sample senior discount of 15% and an assumption that 20% of 5/8‑inch meter connections might qualify. Board members said a needs‑based program (income‑qualified) would better target relief and asked staff to research existing models (the Framingham program was discussed) and bring back proposed eligibility criteria.

The board approved the meeting minutes from March 10, 2025 (one abstention noted) and adjourned. Commissioners scheduled the next water and sewer meeting for July 14, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.