Stoughton Selectmen Vote To Raise Water, Sewer, And Trash Rates

STOUGHTON, MA — The Stoughton Board of Selectmen voted to raise residential rates for the town's water, sewer and trash services.

For fiscal year 2019. The following increases were approved in 4-0 votes (Selectman Richard Hill was absent because of a work commitment):

• Water rates received a 1.5 percent increase
• Sewer rates were also increased by 1.5 percent for rate users. Rates were kept flat for individual wells.
• The standard trash rate increased by $1 quarterly. Seniors will continue to pay 75 percent of the standard rate.

Selectman Stephen Cavey attributed increases to the cost of living as the primary reasoning for the increases.

Cavey said, "If we keep the rates the same, then the town is absorbing the difference between the cost of living increase and the prior year cost of living. That's going to have an impact on our ability to have an operating budget that's able to handle that."

Every member of the Board of Selectmen present at the meeting said they wanted to start increases now. Selectwoman Christine How said, "If we're too small in how we do this (increases), people are going to be in shock when they see their bills in a couple years."

One example of this was brought up by Howe. Water revenue is running at a deficit. According to Howe, their data said the break-even point for revenue versus expenditures is a 22. 3 percent increase.

Howe said, "We need to be mindful that the capital water fund that's been paying for the extra cost and these extra expenses is going to be going away soon."

Selectmen Chair Robert O'Regan said the sewer deficit wasn't on the same scale as water. Future increases associated with cost of living are still expected though. The 1.5 percent increase was designed to be in line with the same mindset as the the water increase.

There was some discussion about not increasing trash rates. Cavey said, "We don't have quite enough information to really do this reasonably."

Last year, trash rates were increased significantly at a $12.50 quarterly rate. According to O'Regan, the town was still off from where it should be despite the previous increase.

Before raising the rates, there was some discussion about developing a formula or index system to streamline future rate adjustments. O'Regan wasn't sure if that was possible.

"It be great to develop a policy on how we're going to approach that," O'Regan said. "But, we still have to vote the rates every year. I'm not sure we can develop that to some formula."