LCWD_FY25 Rates Discussion Presentation from 2.26.24 board meeting
NEW WATER RATES EFFECTIVE MARCH 1, 2024
A new rate structure was approved by the Board of Commissioners at the February 26, 2024 Board Meeting.
Click here to view the memo from Raftelis on the FY23 Rate Summary Analysis
PRIOR RATES (February 2021)
A new rate structure was approved by the Board of Commissioners at the February 24, 2021 Board Meeting. Please click here to view the presentation. The rates are effective as of March 1, 2021.
The Board of Water Commissioners periodically reviews and sets volumetric water rates charged for usage and various services provided by the District. Rates will be reviewed again in April of 2021 as part of the budget setting process for FY22. Please see Rate Setting Tab for information on the rate setting process.
Statements are issued quarterly. All customers pay an applicable service fee billed on each quarterly statement. The cost of the water is calculated using the following rate table.
This pricing structure is referred to as Increasing Block Rates or Tiered Pricing and promotes conservation of resources and reduced water use by increasing the per-unit charges for water as the amount used increases. The first block is charged at one rate and the next block is charged at a higher rate. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has established a goal for residential water use of 65 gallons per capita per day (gpcd) on average.
Quarters shall consist of:
March, April and May: Spring Quarter
June, July and August: Summer Quarter
September, October and November: Fall Quarter
December, January and February: Winter Quarter
Classes shall consist of:
Residential shall apply to all single and multi-family homes
Other shall apply to commercial, churches and other places of worship, LIFE and any other multi-unit/multi building property
Municipal shall apply to all school and municipally owned property, grounds, parks and fields owned and operated by the Town of Lynnfield
https://www.localheadlinenews.com/lynnfield-center-water-district-rates-going-up/
Water District Tax
All Lynnfield residential and commercial property owners located within the bounds of the Lynnfield Center Water District are assessed a Water District Tax based upon the value of their property whether or not they are connected to and obtain water from the distribution system.
The District contracts the Town of Lynnfield, the Lynnfield Board of Assessors, and the Lynnfield Tax Collector to assess and collect the Water District Tax, which is listed as a separate line item on the property tax bill received from the Town of Lynnfield. The tax rate is set by the LCWD Board of Commissioners and applied by the Board of Assessors based upon the total valuation of the property within the District and the appropriations approved by the voters of the District at the Annual Meeting. In November of 2020, the Board of Commissioners approved a tax levy rate equal to $0.46/$1,000 of valuation, a 50% reduction from the 2020 taxes. The link below has information relative to tax levy rates.
December 2, 2019 Board of Commissioners Agenda – Tax Classification Hearing
December 2, 2019 Board of Commissioners Minutes – Tax Classification Hearing
https://www.town.lynnfield.ma.us/board-assessors/pages/tax-rate-history-1940
Other Fees
Fees are charged for various services provided to customers by the District:
- Final meter reading and water bill for change in ownership $125.00 (see “Moving” page)
- Replace water meter if damaged by property owner or due to negligence – cost of replacement meter
- Non-Reading Fee: after a series of attempts to reach a customer, LCWD shall assess a monthly non reading fee until said meter is repaired and properly reading – $75.00 per month
- Meter Tampering Policy: customers caught tampering with a meter shall be punished by a fine of triple the amount of damages sustained thereby or $1,000, whichever is greater.
- Late Charges assessed 18% annually at 1.5% per month based on past due balance (updated with a board vote on 9-14-2020)