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Cumberland water budget hearing: officials cite higher treatment costs and a plan to repay the general fund
Summary
At the May 27 hearing on Ordinance 25-11, councilors heard that the water budget for FY26 reflects roughly $700,000 in higher costs (treatment chemicals, purchased water) and includes a deficit-reduction charge (about $436,000) intended to begin paying back the general fund; staff said rates will reflect those changes. No vote was taken.
The Cumberland Town Council opened a public hearing on Ordinance 25-11 (the water department operating budget for FY2025–26) and the mayor read the department’s proposed revenues and expenditures, reported in the record at about $7.7 million. The council did not take a vote that night.
Staff and Director Romeo told the council the increase of roughly $700,000 is driven by three main items: higher water treatment chemical costs, increased purchased water costs from Pucket, and a planned deficit-reduction charge that begins repayment of funds the water enterprise owes the general fund. The mayor and the director described approximately $436,000 of the added revenue as targeted to general-fund repayment over multiple years.
Councilors and staff noted that the rate adjustments reflected in the ordinance are intended to cover both higher operating costs and the multi-year plan to reduce the water fund’s general-fund liability. No members of the public spoke during the hearing.
Next steps: the council left the hearing open for further consideration ahead of the June hearings and the scheduled final vote.
