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Select Board and Public Works debate FY27 water, sewer and solid‑waste rate increases; biosolids and capital needs drive concerns
Summary
In a joint session, the Select Board and Board of Public Works reviewed proposed FY27 enterprise‑fund rate changes: solid‑waste SMART fee rising to $140, a 7.5% water increase and a 16% sewer increase largely driven by rising biosolids disposal costs. Staff cautioned retained earnings and capital planning require further analysis; the board tabled final action to allow staff refinement.
Dartmouth officials told a joint Select Board and Board of Public Works meeting on July 13 that enterprise funds need higher rates to cover rising operating and disposal costs and to build capital reserves.
DPW Director Tim Barber reviewed the solid‑waste (SMART) fee proposal: "Going into FY27, we are raising the rate to $140, which is a $20 increase," he said, explaining the decision to smooth a previously planned larger hike and to keep bag pricing unchanged. Barber said the target is a steadier annual increase to avoid disruptive spikes.
Finance and operations staff told the boards the recommended increases still leave fiscal risk. Finance Director Gary Curr warned, "Under [Massachusetts] general law, we're not allowed to run deficits in enterprise funds," and advised the board to close any projected shortfalls. Curr said retained earnings would need to increase to fund truck replacements and other capital needs, noting costs for electric trucks and charging infrastructure remain high.
The water proposal calls for a 7.5% increase, and sewer staff recommended a 16% hike for FY27, the latter driven primarily by sharply higher biosolids disposal costs. DPW staff explained PFAS‑related regulatory shifts have turned a formerly modest revenue stream from composting/dewatering into a potential $1.2 million annual disposal cost for biosolids, a leading driver of the sewer increase.
Board members asked for detailed capital‑planning spreadsheets and scenario analysis. One option presented by staff would raise the solid‑waste fee by $30 rather than $20; Barber ran numbers showing a $30 increase would avoid projected deficits in FY27 and FY28. The board agreed to have staff refine analyses and return with recommendations; the chair and finance director suggested waiting until August 1 to finalize any rates to avoid another mid‑year change.
The meeting also included a presentation from the Greater New Bedford Refuse District on Crapo Hill landfill capacity: existing permitted areas provide about 4.5 years of capacity and a proposed Cell 7 could add roughly seven more years if permitted. District leaders highlighted the landfill’s long‑term savings to Dartmouth and urged careful planning as disposal options tighten regionally.
No final enterprise rate decisions were adopted on July 13; the boards voted to table action and asked staff to provide refined scenarios and supporting capital plans before the next meeting.
