PLYMOUTH - June 2, 2026 - The Plymouth Select Board voted 4-1 on Tuesday night to approve a sweeping new fiscal year 2027 fee schedule that implements a sharp 9% rate increase on water volumetric and fixed charges, alongside a 5% increase on sewer rates. While town officials framed the increases as vital to prevent structural deficits and safely update aging utility infrastructure, the decision drew sharp pushback from some board members concerned with the expanding financial pressures currently mounting against local households and taxpayers.
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The primary debate of the evening centered around a presentation by Department of Public Works Director Bill Coyle and Director of Finances Lynne Barrett, who introduced the water, sewer, and solid waste fiscal year 2027 rate recommendations. Coyle clarified that these utilities operate entirely as enterprise accounts, meaning they are completely funded by the direct users of the services rather than through the general municipal tax levy.
The structural rate changes mark year three of an ongoing five-year study conducted by utility consultant Raftelis. The approved plan introduces a 9% increase across all four tiers of water consumption, as well as a 9% hike to quarterly fixed rates based on meter sizes. Additionally, a 10% seasonal surcharge will remain active during the peak summer months of July, August, and September for tiers two through four to promote conservation. Sewer volumetric and fixed charges will rise by 5%, while septic and sludge hauling fees at the Camelot Park wastewater treatment facility will spike roughly 4.17%.
Financial projections show that the combined average bill for a residential customer utilizing a standard five-eighths-inch meter will climb to just over $1,200 annually, up from just under $1,200 this past year. Conversely, solid waste rates will remain flat with no price changes to transfer station passes or trash bags for the third consecutive year, though the town plans to offset an estimated $144,000 operational deficit in that specific account by tapping solid waste retained earnings.
Select Board member David Golden cast the lone dissenting vote, urging the board to look at the numbers from a broader perspective. Golden cited that Plymouth’s median household income hovers around $107,000, and noted that when utility bills are compounded with average property tax bills of roughly $6,200, local families are already surrendering 7% to 8% of their incomes to municipal costs. He questioned if a milder increase could sustain long-term objectives without hitting residents so severely.
