SWAMPSCOTT, MA — The average Swampscott homeowner is facing combined water and sewer rate increases of between $111 and $124 annually based on new rates expected to be implemented this summer to replenish reserve funds and allow for continued sewer infrastructure investments.
The Select Board earlier this week heard two proposals that would raise sewer rates by either 19.5 percent or 18.2 percent starting in August, while water rates will increase by either 7.5 percent or 6.2 percent.
The two proposals will go back to the Water and Sewer Infrastructure Committee for a discussion and vote before the Select Board will be asked to ratify the increases sometime next month.
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“I doubt anyone here is really excited about this level of increase,” Select Board member Doug Thompson said. “But (a lower increase) is not an option.”
The increases would move Swampscott from the seventh-highest water rates out of the 56 MWRA communities to fifth, and move it from 46th to 41st in sewer rates. Combined, Swampscott would go from 36th out of 56 to 23rd out of 56.
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“This is what happens when you chronically underinvest (in infrastructure),” said Select Board member David Grishman in noting the relative low increases, as well as occasional decreases, in the sewer rates in recent years.
Director of Finance Amy Sauro said the increase for next year is designed to “catch up and maintain” necessary reserves to preserve the town’s Triple A bond rating while limiting large jumps in future years.
“You look at the percentage increase and think that is a significant increase but the nominal dollars are not that significant,” Swampscott Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald. “The fact that we are so low comparatively to other communities, that informs us that we haven’t really thought critically about where these investments should be made.”
(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at [email protected]. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)
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