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Council sends one-year 15% water-rate increase to first printing after debate on timing and transparency
Summary
After more than an hour of debate about notice and rate policy, the Gardner City Council voted to send an amended ordinance that would raise water rates by 15% for fiscal year 2027 to first printing; members urged a clearer, multi-year plan and better public notice.
The Gardner City Council on May 18 voted to send to first printing an amended ordinance that would increase water rates by 15% for fiscal year 2027, a move supporters said is needed to shore up the water enterprise fund and opponents said lacked adequate public notice.
Councilor Hegland, reporting for the finance committee, said the committee rejected a larger proposal from the mayor and instead advanced a one-year, 15% increase to “help replenish the enterprise account” and give the administration time to craft a predictable policy. “The item pertains to the expending of just over $1 million of the remaining unexpended bond proceeds,” Hegland said, and later described the committee’s recommendation as a single-year change.
Hegland also told the council the current rate is $6.50 per 100 cubic feet and that the committee’s amended proposal would set the FY27 rate at about $7.48 per 100 cubic feet — roughly a 15% rise from the current charge. He said the committee was advised that without action the water enterprise fund could be depleted in fiscal 2027.
Several councilors urged more advance notice and a multi-year approach. “We need to put a plan, a long-term plan in place,” Council Kazinskus said, arguing that smaller, regular increases would avoid “sticker shock” to residents. Council Mack and others said repeated late changes reduce public trust and hamstring residents’ ability to plan.
Councelor Donowitz, who echoed the finance committee’s concern about fund solvency, noted that the water enterprise fund is separate from the general fund and warned that allowing the enterprise fund to run a deficit would likely require general-fund subsidies or cuts to other services. “Not increasing the water rates isn’t an option as we must continue to make necessary repairs and improvements to ensure the water system remains reliable,” Donowitz said.
Director Arnold and the mayor provided the committee with project lists and cost projections during earlier meetings, councilors said, and the finance committee elected to send the amended ordinance to first printing rather than adopt a longer-term schedule tonight. The vote to send the ordinance to first printing was carried by voice vote.
The ordinance requires a second vote at least 10 days after first printing for adoption. Council members said they expect additional discussion and asked the administration to provide clearer project timelines and communications to residents ahead of the next vote.
Next steps: the ordinance will appear in the required first printing and return to the council for a second vote at a later meeting.
