SOUTH DEERFIELD — Town sewer rates are dramatically increasing in fiscal year 2017.
Starting late November, rates will increase from about $5 to $9 per 1,000 gallons. The connection and service fee will increase from $50 to $200, minimum usage bill from $40 to $100 per bi-annual bill.
As before, abatements for summer usage bills won’t increase more than 25 percent above customers’ winter bill. Based on last year’s usage, the increase will raise revenue $176,000 – generated by about 850 users.
The rate hike is the result of a recommendation by a seven-member Sewer Study Committee, and a study of the town’s rate and billing structure. The money will facilitate $30 million in repairs to both Old Deerfield ($10 million needed) and South Deerfield’s ($20 million required) sewage treatment plants. The committee’s recommendation was approved by the Sewer Commissioners, which is also the Selectboard.
Included is a recommendation to begin charging town-owned buildings for sewer service. Town buildings are currently not charged.
“There are problems with the sewer treatment plants,” said Selectman Henry “Kip” Komosa during an informational session on the change. Komosa said the plants are currently running, but desperately need maintenance to continue. According to an informational paper sent out to town residents, the current rate “has been inadequate to support services.”
He said in the past, the plants have been damaged by objects including “socks, T-shirts, underwear” that are flushed down toilets.
“We need to start addressing those issues,” he continued, adding, “We’re getting to the point when things have to change, and it’s going to be expensive.”
During the meeting, Selectboard Chairwoman Carolyn Shores Ness said the town needs to charge more to qualify for state grants. Recently, the state turned down a grant application from the town because sewer rates were too low. Ness also said the town became aware of the problems a few years ago.
Addressing concerns that the minimum service fee forces single-household residents to pay a higher rate than residents who use more water, Ness said the Sewer Study Committee is looking into tiered and institutional rates, which would ultimately lower fees for single-family households.
“(Statewide) average users pay a lot more in water – tremendously higher than Deerfield,” said Selectman Trevor McDaniel. “Deerfield’s rates have been low for a long time. It is a big increase, and I understand your frustration, but we need to repair this infrastructure.”
Currently, the town has some of the lowest rates in the state.
“The changes from the state are getting stricter and stricter all the time, and our infrastructure is getting older and older,” he continued. “There are so many different ways that we’d rather spend the money, but there comes a point when we have to address the needs of the town. We’re trying to be conservative, but it’s painful – especially if you’re a single person.”
“This is truthfully a drop in the bucket,” Ness said, adding that the town will continue to apply for grants. “(The plants) could fail, and then we’d be subject to fines and would have to do some sort of emergency repairs. The idea is to have a permanent, long-term fix that’s good to the town, and good for the environment.”
Looking ahead, Komosa noted that “there’s a good chance that the rates are going to go quite a bit higher than they are now.”
“There’s a real possibility within the next five years that you’re going to be paying $100 or $150 per month,” Komosa said, addressing a question about how much is anticipated to be needed for repairs. “It just kind of has to. When you flush the toilet, you want it to work.”
Ness noted that if any residents have hardships, and can’t afford the fees, they should reach out to the Selectboard. “We’re certainly sympathetic,” she said.
You can reach Andy Castillo
at: acastillo@recorder.com
or: 413-772-0261, ext. 263
On Twitter: @AndyCCastillo
Sewer Rate Fy17 Mailer by Andy Christian on Scribd