Blackstone residents face sewer bill to cover shortfall

BLACKSTONE – The town’s roughly 1,100 sewer customers will be hit with a one-time, fourth-quarter sewer bill increase of $90 to cov-er a shortfall of $93,711 in the current year water and sewer budget.

The total water and sewer budget deficit is $104,554, including a $93,711 shortfall in the sewer budget and a $10,843 shortcoming in the water budget. Town officials say those deficits need to be covered before the state Department of Revenue can certify the town’s new tax rate.

To cover the water deficit, the Water and Sewer Commission voted last week to increase the base water charge from $32.50 to $38.50, which is a one-time $6 increase all water customers will see on their fourth-quarter tax bills this spring (water and sewer customers are billed quarterly).

Making up the $93,711 sewer deficit, however, will fall on the shoulders of the town’s 1,100 sewer customers who will be asked to shell out an extra $90 as a one-time increase on their fourth-quarter sewer bill.

“We’re sorry, but as a business that’s what we have to do to keep the business running,” said Water and Sewer Commission Chairman Charles J. Sawyer. “Trying to raise more than $90,000 with just 1,100 sewer connections is going to have a big impact on those residents. I don’t like it. I don’t like it at all.”

Sawyer said the fiscal shortfall was due to several factors, including increases in salaries and contracts; sewer maintenance; customer insurance (an increase from $19,995 to $48,647); and increases costs associated with the Woonsocket wastewater treatment plant, including maintenance fees (up 13 percent) and host fees (up $45,339).

Blackstone, North Smithfield and Bellingham all use the Woonsocket Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant on Cumberland Hill Road in Woonsocket and have inter-jurisdictional agreements with the city that splits costs between the three towns.

“The only way we can collect the money to cover this deficit is with a one-time increase on the fourth quarter water and sewer bills, which is going to be a big hit, especially for sewer customers,” Sawyer said.

In 2016, the commissioners hired Weston & Sampson, an engineering and consulting firm, to conduct a water and sewer rate study for the town. That study – the third since 2007 – found that Blackstone needed to adjust its water and rates that year because the water and sewer enterprise fund projected a loss beginning in fiscal year 2017.

The town’s 2017 water and sewer rates are as follows: Water Usage: For 0-5,000 gallons of water used, the charge is $32.50

For 5,001-25,000 gallons used an additional $4.25 per thousand gallons is charged.

For 25,001-50,000 gallons used an additional charge of $6.00 per thousand gallons is charged.

For 50,001 - 999,999 gallons used a final charge of $7.50 per thousand gallons is charged. Sewer Usage: For 0-5,000 gallons of sewer used the charge is $55.

For 5,001-25,000 gallons used an additional $7.95 per thousand gallons is charged.

For 25,001-50,000 gallons used an additional charge of $10.20 per thousand gallons is charged.

For 50,001-999,999 gallons used a final charge of $11.90 per thousand gallons is charged.