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North Brookfield to combine water and sewer bills into one quarterly invoice, officials say
Summary
Town staff told the select board the water and sewer billing cycles will merge into a single quarterly bill (first expected mid‑February); partial payments will be applied in a fixed order and staff asked residents for patience during the transition.
Town staff told the select board on Jan. 13 that North Brookfield will move from two separate biannual water and sewer bills to a single combined quarterly bill.
Ron (town staff) said the change will create one quarterly invoice that combines outstanding balances: “we're gonna combine them together and they're gonna be added as an outstanding balance with this first billing,” with the first combined bills expected in mid‑February. He explained the town’s collector will accept partial payments but not payment plans, and described the order in which partials will be applied: outstanding sewer first, then outstanding water, then current sewer, then current water.
Town staff said the new billing software is partially installed and warned there may be a confusing transition period that will include adjusted deadlines and standard shut‑off notifications. Board members asked about customer savings; staff said direct customer savings are unlikely though town operational efficiencies and more consistent cash flow for the department are expected. A town representative clarified there will be no increase in postage because the net number of mailed statements remains the same.
Officials asked residents with questions to contact the water and sewer departments, the town administrator's office, or the collector once the first bills arrive.
