Scituate Select Board Approves Water, Sewer Rate Hikes

Increases aim to address shortfalls while balancing affordability concerns

SCITUATE, MA - July 9 - The Scituate Select Board voted Tuesday night to increase water and sewer usage rates for fiscal year 2025, while keeping base rates unchanged, as the town grapples with ongoing infrastructure needs and revenue shortfalls.

Water usage rates will rise by 3% to address a $116,000 revenue gap resulting from recent changes to multi-family billing. Sewer usage rates will go up by 4% to restore a $25,000 emergency reserve fund.

"We're just continuing with it," said board member Karen Canfield, referring to ongoing infrastructure upgrades that have driven recent rate hikes. "But how long has it been vacant so far? Five years, six years. So it's almost 700,000 that have been [spent], which is higher than we have it even."

The decision came after lengthy discussions about balancing necessary system improvements with affordability concerns. Some board members pushed to delay certain planned projects to ease the burden on ratepayers.

"We're gonna price ourselves out," said Chair Andrew Goodrich. "And then no one uses it anymore. We keep raising the rates."

Town Administrator James Boudreau noted Scituate has been "very aggressive" in addressing water infrastructure needs over the past three years, with rate increases of 10% and 16% in recent years. One member called for a "deep dive" to reassess priorities. "I think we need to have sort of a reset of what key priorities are, what a realistic timeline is."

The board also received an update on potential redevelopment options for the vacant Gates School property, which is costing the town nearly $100,000 annually to maintain. Consultants presented three scenarios for converting the site to housing, with estimated costs ranging from $19 million to $39 million for 34-66 units.

"We're not committing until someone comes in and you're leaving the door open," said consultant David Koven. "This is not, I decided I had to get in, you're gonna have to take a little bid or a high bid or whatever."

Board members expressed interest in pursuing housing development but wanted more details on financial feasibility and impacts. "I honestly, I don't have a great sense of how folks in town feel," one member said. "Besides, let's do something with it. Whether tear it down, housing, all the different [options]."

The board plans to continue discussions on the Gates School site and water/sewer capital planning at future meetings. Members encouraged residents to provide input on priorities.

In other business, the board:

- Approved the purchase of a $277,500 tree truck for the DPW

- Accepted donations of memorial benches for Bates Lane Conservation Area

- Appointed and reappointed several residents to town boards and committees

The meeting adjourned into executive session to discuss ongoing litigation.