A public hearing scheduled for July will draw scrutiny from multiple City Councillors who have lined up against the Department of Public Works’ proposed water and sewer rate increases. These officials are encouraging residents to make their voices heard at the hearing.
Water and sewer customers consuming less than 2,500 cubic feet will face rate increases of just under 3 percent, according to a letter City Manager Thomas Ambrosino sent to the Council. Those consuming more than that threshold will experience a 5 percent increase, reflecting the city’s tiered rate structure.
“With this increase, the average water and
sewer bill in Chelsea (assuming annual usage of 120 hundred cubic feet) will be
$1,828.80,” Ambrosino stated.
For Fiscal Year 2020, the rates are designed to cover $8,709,470 in water expenditures and $13,326,503 in sewer expenditures, the City Manager reported.
Several councillors raised questions Monday night about the necessity of rate increases, pointing to approximately $7 million in combined surpluses held in water and sewer enterprise accounts.
“I don’t know why we need any increase in
the water and sewer rates,” said District 1 Councillor Robert Bishop. “I don’t
understand why you have to go up at all with $7 million sitting there, that
should be sufficient.” He announced his intention to attend the DPW public hearing, tentatively set for July 16, to express his concerns and encouraged other councillors to join him.
District 6 Councillor Giovanni Recupero was blunt in his assessment, contending that homeowners and renters would bear the burden of these increases.
“This is killing the poor people who live
here,” he said. “This is not only going to drive the homeowners out, this is going to drive the tenants out, too. This is a bad thing to go up this much.
“I like living here, I don’t want to be
driven out.”
District 3 Councillor Joe Perlatonda said he agreed with Recupero.
“The water bills keep going up, and the
taxes keep going up,” he said. “We don’t get any relief for the city of
Chelsea.”
District 2 Councillor Luis Tejada cited rising water and tax rates as a key factor that motivated his entry into local politics.
“Bigger
government isn’t going to make it better in the city,” he said. “We need to put
the brakes on.”