Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Middleboro Water Rate Hikes

A list of water rates hikes may be found at: Cranberry Times
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2 comments:

wayne said...

In the Gazette thursday 11/6, the rate hike was mentioned. There was a reference in that article about the money being needed for "capital improvements".
I thought that as part of the "sales pitch" for the casino the Tribe was going to take care of water system improvements.
Is this rate increase really for what the BOS says it is or is this really an override in disguise?

December 7, 2007 at 5:30 PM
Middleboro Review said...

Wayne, this is far more complicated than space allows. The former Town Manager said earlier this year that 'FEES' had not been raised in almost 20 years.
In other words, when you hook up to town water, the fees don't cover the costs and there are no charges for the cost of development of the systems.
When the rates were last increased, the water consultant recommended that rates be increased each year incrementally to cover rising costs so that rate payers weren't hit with a large increase at one time.
The only reason that rates were raised NOW is because the Town Treasurer put the Selectmen on notice that the Water Enterprise account was at the break even point and the tax rate COULD NOT be set.
During the Recall Election, I suggested that a separate Water/Sewer Commission be established to periodically monitor the costs, projects, forecasts. Clearly, the Selectmen have neither the time nor the interest in the matter. Chairwoman Brunelle could barely disguise her boredom as Selectman Rogers explained the rate increases during the Selectmen's Meeting.
$1 Million was spent from the Enterprise Account having nothing to do with water when the Fuller St. property was purchased. And there were other projects on which Water Enterprise funds were expended that had nothing to do with water.
From the details, it appears that the Casino Investors will pay for $23 million in improvements to bring water to the site, having little to do with the average ratepayer.
Selectman Rogers has a great deal of information and I have requested that he post the information on the Town's Web Site.
I encourage ANYONE who is concerned about ANY particular issue to attend meetings and ask questions.
This is yet another instance of poor management by the Middleboro Selectmen.
And wait until they begin to explain the Wastewater Fees!

December 7, 2007 at 6:08 PM

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