To the Editor:

My comment at the March 26 candidates’ debate about Mr. Sweeney’s “no” vote on water and sewer rates was directed at the fact that the Board of Selectmen has no control over MWRA assessments, which make up about 50% of Milton residents’ water bills and a much greater percentage of our sewer bills.

If the Town fails to pay its full assessments, MWRA can respond by asking the Massachusetts Department of Revenue to intercept the amount of non-payment to MWRA from Milton’s share of local aid that is paid by the State. Local aid is a key source of revenue that funds the Town’s operating budget. An interception of Milton’s local aid by MWRA would adversely impact our budget and cause a reduction in services. Thus, while voting against a rate increase might at first sound like good advocacy for ratepayers, it would have unintended consequences for the Town and its taxpayers.

Our water and sewer bills are high and we’d all like to see them decrease. But the main reason they have increased is that much of MWRA’s budget is debt service for capital improvements to the Deer Island wastewater treatment plant, a water treatment facility, and aging and long-neglected pipes that bring safe drinking water to and remove wastewater from MWRA communities, including Milton. Additionally, Milton has a higher rate of water usage than some other communities do. As I mentioned at the debate, the Board of Selectmen should meet regularly with the DPW Director to keep the public informed about issues affecting our water and sewer bills and service.

Selectmen are better off advocating the interests of taxpayers in areas where they can exercise some control rather than casting a symbolic vote on something that is beyond their control. Matters that are within the Board’s control include collective bargaining, exploring consolidation of services, working to bring more businesses into our business districts, and engaging in long-term planning and financial forecasting.

Katie Conlon
Candidate for Selectman