Somerset boards review proposed FY2027 water and sewer budgets; no final votes taken

Somerset’s Board of Water & Sewer Commissioners and the Town Advisory & Finance Committee met jointly on March 16 to review proposed fiscal year 2027 budgets for the Water and Sewer departments. Chairman Steven Cadorette opened the meeting and a roll call recorded members of both bodies; the boards did not take a final vote on the budgets and directed staff to finalize figures for a later rate review.

Superintendent Christopher Wickman led the presentation on the Water Department budget, saying overall Personnel Services rose about 3.5 percent and that the Superintendent line was placed at the top of the town’s advertised 3–5 percent range. “The personnel services account has increased by 3.5 percent over last year,” Wickman said. He told members the bargaining‑unit raises for LIUNA are included in the FY27 budget and that retroactive pay was handled at a prior special town meeting.

Wickman outlined a requested new Financial Analyst position to be funded from the full‑time wages line, saying the departments now require more dedicated financial work: once the LIUNA contract is finalized, current clerks will be in that bargaining group and the proposed analyst would perform tasks beyond those clerks’ scope. The board discussed reclassifying an office wages line to the full‑time line for that role.

On overtime and merit, Wickman said staff reevaluated the overtime amount and reduced it by roughly 7 percent; merit pay was reduced by 7.6 percent and rolled into contract labor rates. He added that longevity increases reflect contract language and that a state contract reduced uniform costs. Wickman said unspent payroll amounts roll into retained earnings for the enterprise accounts.

Operational costs included a notable increase in line item 5880—Replacement of Water Utilities—used to pay a private excavation contractor. Wickman said prevailing wage increases drove much of that rise and that the contractor’s current contract runs through Jan. 31, 2027; staff hopes to extend it to June 30, 2027 to align with fiscal‑year budgeting. He estimated current water‑main replacement costs at about $250 per linear foot and noted about $90,000 remains available in the town’s ARPA funds to apply to water main replacement.

On energy, board members asked about the Water Treatment Plant solar field. Wickman said the array was designed to provide roughly 60 percent of the facility’s power and estimated the department would still pay for about 40 percent of power needs. “We will pay for approximately 40 percent of the power needed at the facility,” Wickman said, and he estimated total electrical savings, including exported power, at about $100,000 to $200,000 per year.

Wickman summarized water debt service, citing two recent loans for the replacement of a booster pump station at the Hot and Cold Lane tank site—two 25‑year loans at approximately 2.5 percent—alongside older 25‑year loans from 2003 at roughly 3 percent. He presented the water budget as up 4.7 percent overall; he said that if the new debt service is excluded the increase would be about 1.9 percent.

Wickman then reviewed the Sewer Department budget and described consolidating several line items (for example, pipe fittings and meters moved into line #5435) to simplify accounting. He noted that some asphalt costs now appear under contractor lines rather than as material purchases. Clerk Robert Lima and A&F Chair Greg O’Donnell explained that last year some administrative fees associated with loans were omitted from one schedule; this year numbers used State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan reports that include those administrative fees.

The sewer budget shows an 8.25 percent increase, Wickman said, but he estimated the budget would be about 3 percent higher if recent debt payments were excluded. He described loan CWP‑23‑31, a recent SRF loan for five new pump stations, and said some principal was reduced through a loan‑forgiveness provision.

Board members discussed rate implications but did not set new rates. Cadorette suggested a rough method to estimate rate impact—divide the budget increase by about 7,000 customers—while noting the town’s rate consultant will produce final calculations once all figures are finalized. Other clarifying items: the employee share of health insurance remains 25 percent, with the town paying 75 percent; the meter replacement program has about 60 accounts still on old meters (seasonal accounts or owners who have not completed required piping work), and the department has replaced 123 hydrants under a recent grant with about 20 hydrants remaining in inventory.

Cadorette also reviewed ongoing intermunicipal agreements: the town has an IMA allowing Swansea to purchase up to 1,000,000 gallons per day of Somerset water; a sewer IMA with Swansea would allow 50,000 gpd in phase 1 and up to 250,000 gpd after needed work is completed. Discussions with Dighton about a disused well and water sales are ongoing; Somerset holds the withdrawal permit and staff said state permitting issues must be resolved before any sale or lease.

No votes were taken on the proposed budgets at the March 16 meeting. The meeting concluded after routine business; the board approved the Feb. 11 minutes and tabled two other sets of minutes earlier in the session. The Board and A&F Committee will reconvene with final figures from the town and the rate consultant before any rate changes are proposed.