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Coventry council approves 15% sewer rate increase and minimum annual sewer fee
Summary
After reviewing two financial scenarios from a consultant, the council voted unanimously to raise sewer rates by 15% this year (with further schedule adjustments) and to adopt a minimum annual sewer use fee to stabilize the sewer fund.
The Coventry Town Council approved a 15% increase to sewer use charges and established a minimum annual sewer-use fee after hearing financial projections from consultant Laura Marcolini.
Marcolini presented two modeled scenarios: one with 10% annual increases for three years that would bring the sewer fund into a ‘healthy’ balance by about 2032, and a second that assumed 30% increases for three years (with 5% thereafter) and would restore fund health by about 2029 if certain sewer extension projects proceeded. Based on the sewer subcommittee’s recommendation and the town’s goals, the council settled on a 15% increase for the coming year, with proposals for follow-up years discussed by staff.
Vice President LeBlanc noted that, with a 15% increase, Coventry would sit near the middle of sewer charges among Rhode Island municipalities, according to materials distributed to the council. Marcolini said the rates are applied to current sewer rate calculations (per hundred cubic feet of consumption, billed using 80% of meter data) and that the charts in the facility plan show projected average annual bills for a typical household.
Councilors voted by roll call to approve the 15% adjustment (motion passed 5–0) and then approved a companion resolution to implement a minimum annual sewer-use fee (also 5–0). Both resolutions were presented as measures intended to bring the sewer fund closer to the industry practice of holding approximately one year’s operating costs in reserve.
The council asked staff to provide supporting graphs and comparative town data to further explain household bill impacts and to track future adjustments. The consultant’s memos and graphs were referenced during the discussion and will be part of the administrative record.
The council did not set final multi-year percentage increases in ordinance form at the meeting; staff signaled further modeling and follow-up to be scheduled.
