Framingham Council Approves Water, Sewer Deficit Fix

FRAMINGHAM, MA — For any Framingham resident who's missing their winter tax bill, your wait may soon be over.

The Framingham City Council on Tuesday gave initial approval to a plan to fix a $2.5 million deficit in the water and sewer fund. Without a balanced budget, state officials won't sign off on the city's 2021 tax rate, and so Framingham hasn't been able to send out tax bills.

Monday's 11-1 vote, with District 8 Councilor John Stefanini the lone holdout, comes after months of negotiations between the City Council Finance Subcommittee members and Mayor Yvonne Spicer's administration.

The final plan for eliminating the $2.5 million deficit draws from a number of different city departments and accounts.

The Water Department Enterprise Fund and the Sewer Department Enterprise Fund would each be cut by $100,000; $200,000 would come from the general fund reserve; and $2.1 million would come from the free cash fund.

But then seven other city departments will contribute a combined $661,000 from budget cuts to replenish the free cash account: $411,000 from Framingham Public Schools; $150,000 from the library system; $27,000 from the Council on Aging; $22,700 from media services; $21,300 from Planning and Community Development; $19,000 from capital projects; and $10,000 from Loring Arena.

Some Councilors who voted in favor of the plan did so with hesitation. At-large Councilor Janet Leombruno, who sits on the Finance Subcommittee, noted the short-term deficit fix does not address the structural problems in the water and sewer enterprise funds. Framingham officials have suggested water rate hikes for at least the next decade, with up to a 12 percent hike possible this summer.

The City Council has to hold a second vote on the $2.5 million deficit fix, which could happen as soon as March 2.

Related coverage:

• Framingham Foresees Yearly Water, Sewer Rate Increases Until 2032
• Councilors Holding Framingham 'Hostage' On Deficit Issue: Mayor
• Framingham Councilors At Impasse Over Water, Sewer Deficit Fix