LYNN — Residents could see up to a 4% increase on their water and sewer bill in 2027 due to a proposed $200 million budget for construction costs toward updating facilities.
On Wednesday, the Lynn Water & Sewer Commission stated that a hike in rates is essential for generating more income by FY27-29 to afford an anticipated $200 million in upcoming projects.
The projects stem from a 20-year operation and management contract covering the capital improvements at the wastewater treatment plant. The allocated funds proposed were $74 million of the budget toward a new wastewater treatment facility, and $14 million toward improvements to the current wastewater system.
“While the plant is currently still working, we need to determine if a new water treatment plant needs to be installed,” said James Arsenault, the Lynn Water & Sewer Commission executive director. “Either approach will require additional funding in the future as well.”
The commission’s treasurer, Ryan Boisselle, revealed that the current budget is projected to be met, but the commission’s revenue is required to increase for the planned 2027 projects.
“We will continue to work diligently in two other areas to bring fairness to all,” Boisselle said. “One is to aggressively collect customer billings, and secondly, to continue the beta change-out program to ensure each customer is charged accurately.”
The growing cost of refunding general fund revenue bonds has placed a heavier financial burden on user rate revenues, Boisselle said. For two years, the commission has introduced debt service payments to pay off loans to the Mass Clean Water Trust for the Westland Sewer Separation Project and the capital improvements on the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
“This proposed budget will provide ratepayers with the services and the quality they are paying for by providing award-winning drinking water, along with 21st-century wastewater treatment technologies,” Boisselle said.
Francis Harrington of Lynn said he’d like to bring the commission’s attention to modifying the tiered price structure to help create a larger incentive to residents to be more conservative of their water use, and to look into the drastic rate increase of multifamily housing compared to single-family housing.
All are welcome to the next Lynn Water & Sewer Commission meeting scheduled on June 15 at 400 Parkland Avenue to go over budget and rate proposals for FY27.
