WILTON – The Selectboard will be exploring the idea of increasing water rates after Superintendent Justin Futia reported a jump in treatment costs and a drop in usage as reasons for the proposal.
“We’re running heavily into reserves for day to day operations and that may preclude a rate increase,” Futia said. Currently, $84,000 has been drawn from the water reserve account as compared with $45,000 at this same time last year. He cited the purchase of water treatment chemicals, particularly aluminum chloride, that had nearly doubled in price despite the best bulk price the town receives.
In addition, revenues have dropped due to Wilton and partnering North Jay’s water customers are using less water.
Town Manager Rhonda Irish said the drop in water usage was something that was noticed a few years ago as customers began using water conservation devices such as low-flow shower heads. And once the North Jay water main pipe leaks were fixed, water usage dropped off.
There’s not been a water rate increase in Wilton since 1993, Futia noted. Any water rate increase would need approval by the Maine Public Utilities Commission, which regulates the state’s water, electricity, gas, and telephone utilities.
Selectboard member John Black asked Futia to find out what the procedure is for a rate increase through the PUC, to seek rate comparisons with local towns and why the cost of water treatment chemicals gone up so dramatically. Black and Selectboard member Ruth Cushman suggested looking into cooperative purchases with other towns as a possible way to save on chemicals.
Selectboard Chair Tiffany Maiuri advised a proactive approach such as lining the tanks to help prevent corrosive damage and generally looking to improve on engineering methods, which could “save hundreds of thousands” in future costs and extend the life of the facilities.
In other matters, the Selectboard approved allowing the Livermore Falls Fire Department to temporarily house its rescue truck at the Wilton Fire Station for the remainder of the winter. Currently, the Wilton department’s four by four truck is out to bid for sale and once its sold, will free up one of the station’s bays.
“We want to be a good neighbor and it’s not going to cost anything,” Maiuri said. “I’m all for it,” and the the rest of the board agreed. A contract agreement to be drawn up with the Livermore Falls Fire Department to temporarily house their rescue vehicle was approved.
They tell us to conserve water, we did now the rates go up. You just can’t get a break!!!!!!!
The taxes keep going up, the sewer rates are high and could go up more, now the water rates may go and I am sure the RSU 9 budget will increase, causing taxes to go higher. The selectpeople and department heads need to finds ways to cut costs, the taxpayers and ratepayers are broke! The rising costs are driving people and businesses away or preventing them from even starting up in Wilton. The benefits and other high costs need to be looked at and reduced for the water and sewer department employees or services need to be cut. It is a hard thing to do but it needs to happen. I know this sounds pessimistic but the Town of Wilton is a dying town, the population is less, high taxes and utility rates increasing. We are lucky to have the businesses that are here, I hope the increasing rates and taxes do not drive them out, as well. It is time to make some hard decisions to help lessen the burden on the citizens.
The town was able to secure a grant to “revitalize” downtown, maybe there are some state/federal grants that could be applied for that help with infrastructure such as water/sewer. The cost of living in Wilton is quickly spiraling out of control. Town management is no easy task, but maybe we can start thinking outside the box rather than increase rates and taxes. I was quite upset when I learned other money, besides that procured from the grant, was being used to make downtown improvements. I’m sure I’m not alone when I saw the proposed sewer rate increases knowing town money was used to supplement beautification instead of going to the water/sewer department.
I think it’s time for some of us to drill our own well then we will see what the town does with the rates
Water and sewer services need to be cut? So, if the sewer or water line on your street breaks, they don’t come fix it? OR you fix it yourself. I guess that wouldn’t be a tax now, would it?
The suggestions of making cuts are exactly right. I recently sold my home in Wilton. I have lived in town my entire life but will no longer watch my hard earned money be spent this way. Taxes keep increasing, but nobody wants to make cuts. The town is driving “working” families out of town. You’ll be left with those that are retired/fixed income and those that don’t work. Its very sad. Hopefully this can be figured out before its too late
Wilton taxes are just insane. Driving people out is right. You can’t afford to live there.
I also have a hope that something can be figured out. My home town is going down very fast. It is sad!!
Federal grant money for downtown improvements: the town will always have to provide a matching amount to secure these grants but it’s a drop in the bucket in comparison to the money awarded. Very often the town uses “in kind” support such as using their own personnel/equipment to do certain projects to create that match. It’s a boon that we went after and secured this grant. But yeah, the taxes in this town are getting crazy, but the increase in the school budget is a big piece of that picture.
I believe from talking to the town office there is now a minimum sewer rate of a 1000cf usage not including your actual sewer usage or your actual water bill. It was described to me as costing $175.00 as the minimum on the sewerage rates every quarter! So my average $50-$60 water bill which already had a double that in sewer rates costing a total of $180 plus a quarter was now raising to possibly well over $300.00 a quarter!! Now they want to raise our water part????? I do love living in Wilton but like so many others I have spoken to am now being forced to consider other “options”. The taxes and water sewer rates have become a burden that keeps increasingly becoming harder to bare. We have conserved our water considerably but the sewer rate having a minimum of the $175.00 plus is outrageous! Even if we used no water or had it shut off we are still being told that we would still be billed the minimum on the sewer usage charge?!?! Makes no sense at all…. enough is enough…
Being an old fogey and having seen many of my friends and acquaintances move away through the years (am I the only one left? I think so) not one has told me they were leaving because of taxes. Never heard it said. On the other hand, I regularly hear from a few people about their high taxes, but here they still are, and still doing nothing about it.
Everyone writing in to the Bulldog about rising costs may want to consider sending a call, or a letter, or an email to our local representatives and senators for the Maine legislature. Each time the income tax is reduced, local taxes are forced to go up. Each time local aid to education gets cut, like in the governors proposed budget, local taxes are forced to go up to make up the difference. The governor is again proposing to cut aid to education, and to greatly reduce the homestead exemption, forcing property owners to pay more. Call the governor, your congressional representatives, and senators. Income has gone up across the state of Maine, don’t let them cut the income tax rate again…..
Last years Wilton’s portion of school taxes did go down a bit, and that was good for our property tax bill.
If you’re going to be living in Wilton for the next ~25 years…drill a well…install a private septic system. “problem” solved.
As for “hold the phone ” Can’t do that if you live abutting the lake or stream….so for a lot of us that is not a option….