Stoughton Selectmen OK Increase for Water and Trash Rates

Stoughton residents will pay a little more for water and trash services.

Tuesday night, the selectmen voted 4-0 to raise water rates by 2.5 percent, maintain the current sewer rates, and increase trash pickup fees to $2.50 per quarter and $2 for seniors. Selectman David Sousa was not present during the vote.

The increase for the water rates goes against the recommendation of Public Works Superintendent John Batchelder, who endorsed a 10 percent hike.

“We need to go up on water,” he said. “None of us want it to happen but our infrastructure is suffering and when we go up 2.5 percent we’re going backwards.”

The increase means that the average annual water bill of $430 will go up by $11.