City Council Approves Utility Rate Hike as MWRA Costs Climb

By Barbara Taormina

The City Council approved a four percent hike in water and sewer rates, setting the new rates at $5.25 per hundred cubic feet for residential property and $8.70 per HCF for commercial property.

Councillors-at-Large Michelle Kelley and Marc Silvestri voted against the rate increase, both saying that after last year’s increase of 9.7 percent an additional four percent this year was too much. “In two years, to ask residents to see a nearly 14 percent increase in their water bills, it’s a lot,” said Kelley.

Silvestri agreed and said, “I have a huge problem with another raise. People can’t afford to put gas in their cars or food on the table.”

But Chief Financial Officer Richard Viscay said the increase is a result of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority assessment for Revere. The MWRA will charge the city $7.26 million for water and $13.4 million for sewer services in 2027. “The four percent is a direct result of what the MWRA is charging us,” said Viscay, adding, “There’s no way to make this sound like anything good.”

Councillor-at-Large Joanne McKenna reminded fellow councillors of water bills back in the day of the Clean Water Act. McKenna said residents in Revere and neighboring communities paid ungodly high water bills to clean the ocean. “But down at the ocean, the seals have come back, everything has come back. We saw the ocean change. What are we seeing for this? We’re paying all this money and we’re getting nothing for it.”

Viscay explained that over the past several years the city has used American Rescue Plan Act funds to keep water and sewer rates manageable. But now, the city depends on the Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund or the money collected from ratepayers.

Several councillors asked about the consequences of not increasing the rates. Viscay said that without a four percent increase this year, next year’s rates would climb to more than nine percent. The city would need to replace any money spent from the water and sewer stabilization fund.

Ward 4 Councillor Paul Argenzio proposed a comprehensive study on a tiered system where households that used less water than average would pay a lower rate. “It would help seniors who don’t use that much water,” said Argenzio.

Viscay agreed a tiered system would be helpful.

“You’re asking us to pay now, or pay later,” said Council President Anthony Zambuto.

The Council voted to pay now.