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Acton Water District approves $9.57 million FY2027 operating budget, citing well rehab and accelerated meter replacements
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Summary
Voters at a special meeting approved a $9,568,431 FY2027 operating budget for the Acton Water District, a package district leaders say will fund North Acton well rehabilitation and an accelerated meter-replacement effort that together drive a projected median quarterly bill increase of $33.50 ($134 annually).
The Acton Water District on a voice vote approved a $9,568,431 operating budget for fiscal year 2027 at a special meeting, a package district leaders said is needed to pay for an unexpected North Acton well rehabilitation and to accelerate replacement of aging customer meters.
"This brief presentation will provide an overview of what the district does and how that relates to your water bill," District Manager Matt Mossola said during a presentation to ratepayers and district members. Mossola said the budget projects about $9.9 million in revenues and roughly $9.6 million in expenses, leaving an anticipated surplus of about $300,000.
The budget includes an $888,000 line item to rehabilitate the North Acton well and a $200,000 increase to accelerate the meter-replacement program. Mossola told the meeting that debt service remains a major line in the operating budget — roughly $3 million this year — and that the next three years will include the district's highest anticipated debt service before a modest reduction is expected.
Commissioner Miss Lynn, who moved the article, urged approval and emphasized collaboration among staff, commissioners and the finance committee. "We are able to include many vital system improvements and be responsive to the comments of voters," she said, asking for the public's approval during the special meeting.
District staff and residents asked detailed questions during an extended public-comment period. Management clarified a discrepancy between the mailed notice and the slide deck: the current median quarterly residential water bill is $186.75 and would rise to $220.25 under the FY27 budget, a $33.50 increase per quarter (about $134 per year). The presenter explained the meter budget increase follows recent failures in meter-communication technology and that the district has placed a meter order of just over $200,000 to accelerate replacements.
On PFAS-related funding, a resident asked whether additional state money is available to offset local costs. Meeting participants were told there is no additional state funding currently available for PFAS expenses; earlier assistance exhausted program funds that the district had accessed.
Several speakers urged the district to use free cash to blunt the rate impact. Management said a portion of previously appropriated free-cash amounts is being preserved for other capital needs and that the projected surplus and free-cash certification are still subject to finalization, so relying on those amounts now would risk leaving the district without reserves.
The finance committee recommended approval of the expense budget, including added spending for well and meter work. With a majority voice vote — the moderator announced the motion carries — Article 1 passed. No roll-call vote tally was recorded in the transcript.
The special meeting dissolved immediately after the vote. Next steps identified at the meeting include completing the district master plan and finishing a cost-allocation study that district staff said will feed into a rate study planned for the coming year.
