Politics & Government
Burlington Water and Sewer Rates to Rise in January
Superintendent of Public Works John Sanchez presented the new sewer and water rates to the Board of Selectmen.
The Burlington Board of Selectmen approved new water and sewer rates for 2013 during the meeting on Monday night.
Superintendent of Public Works John Sanchez presented the suggested rates, which will go into effect on Jan. 1. Residents will be billed twice during the year at the new rates, the first time being on July 1. Businesses will be billed at the new rates on April 1.
"Residents won't be billed until July but we wanted to give people a chance to know that the water they will use after January will be more expensive than the year before," Sanchez said.
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Sanchez said despite the rate increase, Burlington will still have the lowest rates among all the towns in the Massachusetts Water Resource Association system.
The selectmen were pleased that Burlington residents and businesses pay less than those in surrounding communities.
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"It's good to see we are the lowest and we hate to raise rates, but the MWRA rates are up, so we’re being fair," Selectman Walter Zenkin said.
The board voted 5-0-0 to approve the new rates.
Residential Rates (2x per year)
Sanchez explained that on average a resident who uses under 20,000 gallons will see their bill increase from $74 to $79. Those who average 35,000 gallons will see their bill increase from $153.25 to $163.50. The typical family that uses an average of 45,000 gallons will see their bill increase from $276.50 to $294.
Water Rates per 1,000 gallons
The minimal bill, meaning the charge those who use under 20,000 gallons, will stay at $37.
Gallons Used Current rate New 2013 Rates 20k to 30k $2 $2 30k to 50k $2.25 $2.75 50k to 70k $3 $3.50 70k to 90k $3.75 $4.50 90k to infinity $4.50 $4.75Sewer Rates per 1,000 gallons
The minimal bill, meaning the charge those who use under 20,000 gallons, will rise from $37 to $42.
Gallons Used Current Rate New 2013 Rates 20k to 30k $5.50 $6 30k to 50k $6.25 $6.25 50k to 70k $7 $7 70k to 90k $8 $8 90k to infinity $9.50 $9.50Residential Irrigation Rates (1x per year)
The minimum bill for those who use 5,000 gallons or less will go up from $22.50 to $23.50. The rate for those who use 5,001 gallons or more will increase from $4.50 to $4.75.
Commercial Rates (4x per year)
Water Rates per 1,000 gallons
The minimal bill, meaning the charge those who use under 10,000 gallons, will stay at $18.
Sewer Rates per 1,000 gallons
The minimal bill, meaning the charge those who use under 10,000 gallons, will rise from $31 to $34.
Gallons used Current Rate New 2013 Rate 10k to 15k $7 $7 15k to 35k $8 $8 35k to infinity $9.50 $9.50
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