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Select Board approves 3.5% water and sewer rate increase for FY25 after task‑force review
Summary
After a public hearing and consultant presentation, the Select Board voted to adopt a 3.5% across‑the‑board increase to water and sewer rates effective July 1, 2024, citing reserve rebuilding and financial stability; staff and consultants noted affordability limits and legal constraints on expanding enterprise subsidies.
The Select Board voted to adopt FY25 water and sewer rates with a 3.5% across‑the‑board increase, following a public hearing featuring the Department of Public Works and consultant Raftelis.
Erin Chiu, commissioner of public works, said the water and sewer enterprise budget is approximately $33.4 million (a 2.76% increase) and that the town coordinates rate setting after receiving an MWRA assessment each spring. She said the department and task force aim to maintain steady, modest annual increases and build operating reserves to roughly 90 days of O&M to avoid mid‑year shocks.
David Fox of Raftelis, the town’s rate consultant, recommended the 3.5% increase based on a five‑year financial plan and sensitivity testing. Fox said the increase would help the enterprise reach target reserve levels while keeping Brookline’s bills below many peer communities. He presented sample bill impacts: for a typical household the increase would be roughly $3.50 per month; low‑volume households would see about $2.15 per month.
During public comment, task‑force member David Lascoyier and others flagged affordability concerns and cited a Brookline Community Foundation analysis showing vulnerable households in town. Fox and DPW staff noted they used industry standard metrics for a community‑wide affordability assessment and that the task force had examined, but ultimately concluded it could not expand customer assistance through the water enterprise fund because of administrative limits and a Department of Revenue view that using enterprise funds to subsidize customers could be legally problematic.
After public comment and discussion, the Select Board voted to adopt the rate schedule effective July 1, 2024; to approve quarterly base charges by meter size and an irrigation rate of $6.49 per 100 cubic feet; to set the annual fire service charge; and to continue the senior discount program that provides 50% of the base charge to eligible ratepayers determined under Massachusetts property‑tax exemption rules (Chapter 59 clauses referenced). Board members indicated they will continue to study affordability options outside the enterprise fund.
The DPW said it will publish the adopted rate schedule and continue periodic outreach and analysis from the water and sewer rates task force.
