Select Board Approves Water, Sewer Rate Hikes
Hatfield raises water and sewer rates after years of inconsistent revenue. The Select Board voted unanimously Tuesday to increase water rates 5.2 percent, to $7.88 per hundred cubic feet, and sewer rates 8.5 percent, to $14.96, pushing the average combined household bill up roughly $9 a month.
Select Board · Meeting of June 30, 2026
Hatfield raises water and sewer rates after years of inconsistent revenue. The Select Board voted unanimously Tuesday to increase water rates 5.2 percent, to $7.88 per hundred cubic feet, and sewer rates 8.5 percent, to $14.96, pushing the average combined household bill up roughly $9 a month. Consultant Dave Prickett of DPC Engineering, who called himself "the bad guy" at every rate hearing, recommended the increases to build combined reserves toward $1 million on each side.
Member Julia Frisby said the enterprise fund should "show this as an honest expense" rather than let indirect costs go unacknowledged the way the school budget does. The board also approved a $3,606,224 bond note sale for wastewater treatment plant work, hired the UMass-based Center for Resilient Metro Regions for a zoning rewrite, and accepted a $61,000 state grant for Cutter Farm Museum roof repairs.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 3,173 words
Source: the Select Board meeting of June 30, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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