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Dartmouth board tables water, sewer rate vote and schedules joint review with Select Board
Summary
After a detailed presentation on FY27 forecasts showing proposed 7.5% water and about 15% sewer increases, the Board of Public Works voted to table final action and hold a joint meeting with the Select Board on July 13 to review supporting analyses and outreach materials.
Dartmouth’s Board of Public Works on June 23 paused final action on proposed water and sewer rate increases for fiscal 2027, voting to hold a joint meeting with the Select Board on July 13 to review detailed forecasts and outreach materials.
Superintendent Tim told the board the town is contemplating an estimated 7.5% increase for water and roughly a 15% increase for sewer in FY27, citing rising operating costs and the need to rebuild enterprise fund capacity. "The water enterprise fund is doing really well... with a recommended 7.5% increase this year, we start to build a little bit of capacity," Finance Director Gary Ferraro said during the presentation.
Ferraro and Town Administrator Cody Hatten walked the board through drivers behind the proposals: water expenses rose about 9.7% and sewer expenses roughly 22% this year, with increases in town overhead contributing to higher total costs. Tim flagged a particular sewer pressure point: biosolids handling costs that could reach about $100,000 per month and were budgeted as part of a near-$900,000 budget increase the department anticipates.
Board members sought more granular materials before agreeing to adopt any rates. Mr. Gagne recommended getting background tables and memos in batches with at least a week’s notice to allow members to digest the analysis; he moved to table formal approval and to schedule the joint Board of Public Works/Select Board meeting on July 13. The motion passed by roll call.
The superintendent said the delayed decision will not prevent a July 1 effective date if the board finalizes rates in early July; officials noted quarterly billing adds flexibility because the first FY27 bills are not distributed until August. The board asked staff to distribute the capital plan, the SkanTech wastewater capacity report and any other materials relevant to projected plant capacity and future connection requests ahead of the July session.
Next steps: the Board of Public Works will meet jointly with the Select Board on July 13 to review the rate proposals, capital needs and supporting analyses. No rate change was adopted at the June 23 meeting.
