Ayer Rate Panel Eyes 3% Water, 5% Sewer Hike for Fiscal 2027

AYER — January 27, 2026 — Ayer Rate Review Committee reaches informal consensus on 3 percent water and 5 percent sewer increases for FY2027. Meeting Tuesday, the committee worked through four modeled water scenarios and a series of live sewer projections before settling on a 3 percent water rate increase paired with a $350,000 draw from water retained earnings — projected to leave the water fund about $48,000 in the black — and a 5 percent sewer rate increase with a $50,000 retained earnings buffer, leaving the sewer fund roughly $10,000 positive. A modeled scenario with no retained earnings showed water rates would need to jump 16.5 percent in FY2027 to maintain positive cash flow. The Water and Sewer Superintendent advocated for rates closer to 5 percent on water, warning that repeated reliance on retained earnings "just kicks the can down the road." No formal vote was taken; the committee expects to finalize a complete package — including updated connection fees rising from $4,800 to $5,100 for water and $6,000 to $6,375 for sewer — at its February 10 meeting before scheduling a public hearing.