SOUTHWICK — The Select Board voted unanimously on Sept. 5 to increase sewer rates an average of 36% and increase the town’s subsidy to offset the sewer department’s shortfall.
Public Works Director Randy Brown has been warning the board for the past two years of a projected large gap between the revenues generated by user fees and the overall cost of operating the system.
While he said that rates needed increasing, Brown also said it was imperative that the town increase the subsidy paid by every landowner to offset the sewer department’s projected deficit, which is expected to increase to $511,000 in fiscal year 2025.
“You want us to be paying for everybody else,” said Finance Committee member Karen DeMaio. She said homeowners with failing septic systems don’t get any town help to share the financial burden of repairs.
Two Select Board members responded.
“It’s everybody’s town,” countered Diane Gale.
“I hear you,” said Douglas Moglin, addressing DeMaio. “Why should people that are not on [the sewer system] subsidize those that are, unless there’s a compelling reason. [But] there are other things in our budget … that the whole town subsidizes that not everybody takes advantage of … it’s health, safety, you name it. To me, this is one of them.”
Moglin then suggested raising the taxpayer subsidy and keeping it at that amount for a set period of time. Select Board members agreed to increase the annual subsidy from $224,000 to $303,000, and also increase sewer rates.
The town’s current sewer rate has three use categories: $11.75 per thousand gallons for those who use up to 15,000 gallons annually; $14.38 per thousand gallons for those who use between 15,000 and 30,000 gallons annually; and $15.44 for those who use 30,000 gallons or more annually.
Starting Oct. 1, the lowest rate will increase to $14.10 per thousand gallons, the middle rate will increase to $20.13, and the top rate will increase to $23.16. Brown said raising the rates to those levels would get the department through fiscal years 2025 and 2026.
