Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water Rates topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Hamilton staff outline water-rate options as town faces $11.5M of water projects
Summary
Public-works staff told the Select Board a sample of about 100 two-person households used roughly 10,000 gallons per quarter and presented rate-adjustment options to build retained earnings for roughly $11.5M of near-term water projects; the board asked for clearer public outreach and an information sheet ahead of any vote.
Town public-works staff presented a multi-year look at Hamilton’s water enterprise fund and options to adjust rates to fund planned capital work.
Director of public works Tim Olsen told the Select Board he sampled nearly 100 two-person households and found an average use “just over about 10,000 gallons per quarter,” and reviewed prior rate adjustments, including a 2020 increase and a 2023 multi-tier change.
Olsen and staff outlined that the town faces approximately $11.5 million of water projects over the next 5–8 years, and that the enterprise fund carried roughly $1.2 million in retained earnings under the town’s policy target. He noted some debt service remains from a previous $10 million borrowing, with about $8.5 million of principal left to pay down.
“By adjusting [the low tier] from 5,000 to 10,000, it seemed like it was a savings per quarter of about $12 and about $50 for the year,” Olsen said, noting a modest adjustment could eliminate a small operating deficit next year. Board members and residents pushed for better comparative data about peer communities, clearer estimates of which capital projects would be paid from retained earnings versus borrowing, and a public information sheet.
Select Board members asked staff to re-circulate the spreadsheet with rate-scenario options and to return with refined proposals at an upcoming meeting so the board could decide in time for an August billing change. The board also discussed broader public meetings (May/June) to present the long-range plan and to prepare tax-bill and water-bill informational materials.
Next steps: staff will send the Excel scenarios to the board, prepare an info sheet for customers, and schedule follow-up discussions so the board can adopt a rate plan and allow sufficient public notice prior to implementation.
