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Niskayuna schedules public hearing after staff unveil proposed water and sewer rate changes
Summary
Town staff circulated proposed water and sewer rates and will post a public hearing notice; officials said Sewer District 1 could see a larger per-household increase because it has fewer units sharing costs and urged outreach on irrigation and second meters to limit sewer charges.
Town Supervisor Sarah Bolovski told the Finance & General Government Committee that staff will post a public hearing notice for proposed water and sewer rate changes and circulated comparison rates the committee could use at the hearing.
The proposed changes are based on the town’s budget line for “water or sewer rents” and six cycles of recent usage data, staff said, and are intended to ensure the utilities cover operational costs. Sarah Bolovski said the packet includes two ways to read the numbers: the bottom figures show an apples-to-apples comparison of current usage costs, while the top figures also reflect the budget impact if the town increases rates. “Watering your lawn is a lot of water. It’s a lot,” Bolovski said as staff explained how irrigation can multiply usage and raise bills substantially for homes without a separate irrigation meter.
Why it matters: residents in Sewer District 1 may feel the increase more because there are fewer units sharing district costs, staff said. That distributional effect, rather than a single large budget jump, drives much of the difference between districts. Committee members asked staff to verify personnel and allocation numbers used in the calculations before the rates go public and requested an explanatory one-page information sheet and links to the relevant budget sections to accompany the hearing notice.
Staff explained the methodology: they used averages from the last six billing cycles to estimate typical usage, then compared those averages against multiple supplier scenarios. Committee members recommended the town emphasize water-conservation messaging and encourage residents with heavy irrigation to install a second meter so they are not charged sewer on outside water. Staff said they will prepare a clear comparison sheet for distribution and that the rate materials will go to Michelle (town staff) for the public-hearing notice the following day.
The supervisor and members also discussed timing for locking supply contracts and whether short-term rate commitments would limit the town’s flexibility. Staff said changes tied to the budget could instead be incorporated in the next budget cycle and, if needed, new rates could be scheduled to take effect Jan. 1. The next procedural step is the public hearing; staff asked committee members to submit any corrections early the following morning so the notice can be finalized.
