ATHOL – The Selectboard, at its meeting Tuesday night, March 19, voted to increase the rates for water and sewer service in the town of Athol.

Public Works Director Dick Kilhart pointed out to the board that there was no increase in the cost of water and sewer service for the current fiscal year after increases of 8%, 7% and 6% over the previous three years, respectively.

“The proposal that the DPW is coming to you with is the same proposal that we came before you with four years ago,” said Kilhart

Using as visual aids a gallon of bottled water purchased for $1.79 and a 16-ounce bottle purchased for 99 cents, Kilhart then held up a penny and continued, “The increase that your Department of Public Works is proposing is less than one cent per gallon.”

“We can’t level fund budgets,” Kilhart continued. “We work hard with the town manager, we work hard to save where we can but, as you all know, no one likes increases. But we have expenses in those water and sewer divisions that we can’t absorb – chemical costs, insurance costs, vehicle costs, electricity. All of those things.”

Kilhart said rates are figured using the amounts of water and sewage the town pumps.

“The DPW has really tried to maintain a level line as best we could over the course of time,” he said. “But every time you skip that one year (of increases) you get a year further behind. You folks chose to do that last year, but we try to maintain the services that we have, the water that we supply, the protections we supply to the residents of Athol, and hopeful that you feel the same way and will support (the recommended increases).”

In addition, Kilhart recommended that the town send out water and sewer bills on a monthly basis rather than quarterly.

“If you have a quarterly bill that comes to $250, that monthly bill would be around $75,” he said. “It would be less than any other bill that any of us have at home – cell phone bill, cable bill, grocery bill.”

In addition, Kilhart argued, monthly billing would generate revenue “on a regular occurrence” instead of every three months and would make it easier for water and sewer customers to plan their budgets.

Selectboard member Rebecca Bialecki motioned almost immediately that the board approve the move to monthly billing.

“I thing it’s easier for our residents to pay on a monthly basis,” she said, “and to do that as soon as possible for our accounting purposes.”

Following several questions from residents in attendance, Bialecki and the other two board members present, Chair Stephen Raymond and Andy Sujdak, approved the motion. Board member Brian Dodge, appearing via Zoom, opposed the measure.

Bialecki then motioned that the board approve an increase in water and sewer rates of 7% per year over each of the next three years.

Dodge asked if the water and sewer divisions were running at a deficit, to which Kilhart answered in the negative.

“What’s the surplus?” asked Dodge.

“Around $270,00, $280,00 – something like that,” said Assistant DPW Director Paul Raskevitz.

“What’s the yearly cost to run it?” Dodge continued.

Kilhart responded, “$1.5 million.”

Bialecki, Raymond, and Sujdak again voted as a block to approve the increase, with Dodge again casting a dissenting vote.

At present, Athol residents are paying $5.47 per 100 cubic feet for water. That will increase to $5.85/100 cf beginning July 1, then jump to $6.26/100 cf in FY27, and $6.70/100 cf for FY28.

Sewer rates will increase to $9.36/100 cf, $10.02/100 cf and $10.72/100 cf over each of the next three years, respectively.

Athol’s DPW also supplies water to a neighborhood in Orange that lies just over the town line, across the Tully River. Rates for those homeowners will also rise 7% per year over the next three fiscal years.

Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com.