'A Death by a Hundred Cuts': Water & Sewer Rate Increase Passes 8-2

A Somerville resident is on the brink of telling the incoming professional class "Enough, you can have it."  

While I was door knocking near Capuano Elementary, I met a man whose father, a US Navy veteran, in the 1950s moved the family from a Portuguese controlled Island--Madeira if memory serves. He proudly owns the Dell bought in 1991 on savings  scratched together from $10-15 hour jobs all his life, and there with his wife raised two daughters. He is now a grandfather to twins and wants to be able to support them. But he complained of the taxes and fees, in short the ever increasing unaffordability of Somerville. He had taken care of veterans--like neighbor Russ MacCauley, who passed eight years ago, recalling years taking him to medical appointments. As someone who had lived right, who had invested in Somerville, the increasing costs of living in Somerville were pushing him to the brink of leaving.

I submitted the following letter advocating a No vote for Water & Sewer Rate Increases to the Water Department and to Councilors Naima Sait (Ward 5) and JT Scott (Ward 2), both of whom had voted No last year, but this year voted Yes in sympathy to the need to fund Capital projects investing in our infrastructure. Councilor Scott acknowledged that for many, indeed, these increases would be "a death by a hundred cuts." While At Large-Councilor's Will Mbah and Kristen Strezo voted No.

June 11, 2025

City of Somerville

Water and Sewer Department

17 Franey Road

Somerville, MA, 02145

Re: Rate Hearing-512812025

To Whom it May Concern:

I am writing to express concern regarding the proposed rates for the City of Somerville’s

FY2026 water and sewer billing structure which include the following:

 An 18% increase in water volumetric charges

 A 12% increase in sewer volumetric charges

 A change from the current tri-annual billing cycle (every four months) to a quarterly billing

cycle (every three months) for residential accounts.

Eliminate late payments fees for residents. This will protect our most vulnerable neighbors

as a measure of equity to offset economic stresses. Minimum wage workers must work over

20 hours per month just to cover their water bills, exceeding EPA affordability thresholds.

In some towns and cities, 22 percent of revenue comes from charges paid by users of locally

run services like water systems. Certainly, Somerville charging the third highest rates in the

Commonwealth, has a monumental task in updating ancient infrastructure.

Fully protect Somerville’s vulnerable persons. Despite former Director Vidalis’ sworn effort over

consecutive years to implement an assistance program, lagging and minimal outreach

prevent many from taking advantage.

Make adjusted tiers easier to access. Meaningful difference is felt, but more improvement

is needed urgently to keep from displacing our neighbors. The Department has implemented

new meters and online payments, tiered rate structures, volumetric surcharges, and

infrastructure surcharges. All the ways utilities use to sell “affordability” while Cities invest in

upgrades--yet consumers are feeling harangued and harassed with late fees. We know a

supplier can create default tiers for single-family customers that presume a given household

size (e.g. 4 people) and allow larger households to apply for adjusted tiers based on actual

household size.

Fill vacancies, keep work in-house. Finally, with contract negotiations completed, the City

has allowed salary increases to positions long left vacant. The number of vacancies in the

water and sewer departments has not been fully addressed, which Councilor JT Scott in 2023

noted could have saved $2.75 million in contract work the city outsources that relate to the

staffing vacancies. Make a course correction.

Sincerely,

Christopher Ryan Spicer

13 Trull Street, Ward 5

Somerville, MA 02145