Residents and council spar over multiyear water and sewer rate plan at public hearing

The council held a public hearing on a proposed ordinance to establish multiyear water and sewer rates intended to fund critical capital improvements and stabilize utility finances. Interim Town Manager Tony Sabio and utility consultants presented the plan as a framework for the next five to six years, not immutable final numbers. Staff said the plan would help secure grants and financing by showing a documented, forward‑looking approach to funding infrastructure.

During public comment, residents delivered sharply different views. Some speakers, including Daniel Carville, said higher rates are necessary to address aging infrastructure and warned the town cannot keep postponing significant investments. Other residents argued the differences between alternative scenarios amount to roughly $5 a month for the average household and urged councilors to protect residents' pocketbooks. Council members debated whether codifying a multi‑year plan provides meaningful protections (one councilor said the ordinance could be changed by a future council) and whether the town could meet grant conditions that required achieving structural balance in the water enterprise fund by project completion. "This is not politics. It's math," said Council member Rayner in support of raising rates to cover costs.