The Center Water District (LCWD) is halving its per $1,000 value tax levy on local residential water users and updating water users on proposed improvements projects during a Monday, Dec. 14 virtual meeting.
LCWD’s Board of Commissioners and town assessors voted last month, according to a statement from District Superintendent John Scenna, to reduce the tax levy from 93 cents per $1,000 value to 46 cents per $1,000 value. The cut will be implemented in January.
According to LCWD’s website, the tax levy increased significantly last year ” …as a result of unanticipated budget increases, lack of reserve funds” and water rates reduced to levels incapable of generating enough money to meet LCWD budget needs.
In February, commissioners and Scenna met with consultant David Fox from Raftellis, an industry leader in utility system financing, and voted to install a new volumetric rate structure.
Those rates have been since applied to consumption bills issued by LCWD in June and September of this year. LCWD is currently preparing fall quarter consumption bills to be issued in December.
“Early indicators support that the new rate structure is performing and meeting financial goals,” Fox stated in an LCWD website posting.
Commissioners plan to outline the tax levy cut and recommendations to pursue a water interconnection with the town of Wakefield during the 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 14 virtual meeting.
Residents are encouraged to log onto the meeting with log-on information available at [email protected]
Faced with annual summer water shortages requiring water use restrictions, LCWD asked a consultant to outline the district’s options for increasing its water supply.
Scenna said consultant CDM Smith recommended negotiating a connection with Wakefield’s water supply that would allow LCWD to tie into the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority supply system.
The tie-in, if successfully negotiated, would increase LCWD’s supply by 25 percent.
Scenna in his Dec. 11 statement said commissioners on Monday will discuss, in addition to the tie-in, a proposal to build a new water treatment plant at LCWD’s Glen Drive complex and improvements to the Main Street station to, Scenna said, “level the playing field in regards to water quality from multiple groundwater sources in the District.”
No decision or vote on the tie-in or other improvements has been undertaken to date.
Monday’s commission discussion will help set the stage for a spring 2021 vote on appropriating money to pay for proposed projects.
“We encourage all residents to attend this event in order to get a better understanding of our goals in both supplementing our water sources and also providing consistent water quality,” Scenna said.
