▼

Assessor

Show All Answers

1. What is an abatement application? Why might I need one?

Please see the Abatement Application page.

2. When can I file an abatement request?

Abatement applications are accepted from January 1st until February 1st

3. My taxes are too high. What can I do to reduce the burden?

If you believe that your property assessment valuation is the problem, you may file an abatement application. If you are concerned about high taxes in general, but not your assessment, you must address the town’s budget. Taxes are determined by the size of the town budget. Your vote at Town Meeting is the best way to express your concern. Your votes on the budget, Proposition 2.5 overrides, capital purchases. And town debt ultimately affects your real estate taxes.

4. Where can I get help with an abatement request or more information on personal exemptions?

The Assessors Office; Department of Revenue; Private counsel.

5. What is fair market value?

The amount a well-informed buyer is willing to pay for the property. Fair market value for a parcel is the price that a willing buyer and a willing seller can agree upon when neither party is under undue pressure to complete the sale.

6. What method does Manchester use to determine fair market value?

Manchester uses a market adjusted cost approach. In some instances, the assessors may use estimated replacement costs, adjusted for depreciation and condition, to determine the value of the building and other items on the property.  Commercial properties are assessed based on the income approach and market adjusted cost approach.

7. What factors were used to determine my property value in the most recent revaluation?

About two dozen factors are used in the computer model. 

Currently, the factors include: 

Style of home, neighborhood, square footage of the residence, size of lot, construction grade, condition of the residence, age of the building, number of bedrooms and total rooms, full and half baths, rec room, enclosed and open porches, the number of living units, garages, attic, basement, story height, view, exterior siding, central air conditioning, fireplaces, heating, construction costs, land value.  The factors were selected as they were found to have the greatest influence on market value.

8. Where can I get information on properties in Manchester?

Information about Manchester’s approximately 2,600 parcels is available on the Town website www.manchester.ma.us or at the Assessor's Office on the computer at the counter.

9. Do I have to allow the assessor into my home?

No, however, it is in your best interest to do so. The Board appreciates the cooperation given by the majority of residents who permit an interior inspection of their residences. Inspections take only a few minutes and can be scheduled to accommodate the homeowner. The assessors must make a reasonable assessment of your property, including the interior, in order to arrive at fair market value. They will most likely estimate highest value and best use if they cannot enter the residence. Interior inspections improve the quality of the valuation process and diminish errors.  This saves expense for the taxpayer and the town because fewer assessments are challenged.

10. What makes an arm’s length sale?

To represent fair market value, a sale must be an arm’s length transaction, i.e., it must be a sale in which there is no relationship between the buyer and the seller that may influence the price, such as a transaction between family members.

11. Why are the measurements of my residence different from those made by the real estate agent?

For assessment purposes, measurements of buildings are made using outside dimensions. For real estate purposes, square footage is determined by making inside measurement.

12. Will my assessment go up if I repair my property?

Normal maintenance will help retain the value of your property and generally will not affect your assessment. Upgrades, additions, extensive remodeling, new fireplaces, central air conditioning, modernization of kitchens or bathrooms, and improvements in general are likely to increase the assessed value of your property. Serious property deterioration will lower the value of your investment and may result in a lower assessed value than if the property were well maintained.

13. I have recently built a home. Will the construction cost be used for my assessment?

Usually cost does not equal value. The assessors will review the costs. They will make an independent evaluation as to whether the costs plus the value of the land equate with current market value.

14. Where can I get a list of recent house sales?

Data is on the counter at the Assessors Office or Banker & Tradesman newspaper.

15. When do taxpayers receive their bills?

The actual tax bill can’t be provided until the state Cherry Sheets are published; the state has approved the town assessments; and the tax rate is established for the town. The latter can’t be done until after Town Meeting. Typically it is 6 months after the beginning of the fiscal year before the actual tax bill is available. Estimated bills are usually mailed to taxpayers in June for the first quarterly payment due August 1st. The second quarterly statement is mailed in September and due November 1st. The actual tax bill is mailed in late December and represents the third quarter payment due February 1st. The fourth and final quarter usually follows in March and is due May 1st.

16. Why is the Former owner’s name still on my tax bill?

This often confuses new owners, but Chapter 59, Section 11, of the Massachusetts General Law reads, “Taxes on real estate shall be assessed, in the town where it lies, to the person who is the owner on January 1st.....” The tax bill will carry the January 1st owners(s) name throughout the entire subsequent fiscal year. The former owner's name will be replaced by the new owner's name once the fiscal year has run its cycle.

▼

Conservation

Show All Answers

1. Do I need to file?

Please see the Filing page.

2. Can someone help me fill out these forms?

Yes, call the conservation administrator and schedule an appointment. She would be happy to help you with the forms.

3. What is the buffer zone?

The buffer zone is a term used in both the Wetlands Protection Act and the Manchester Wetlands By-law. The buffer zone is the area that extends 100 feet perpendicularly from one of the resource areas listed above. The buffer zone is not a resource area itself. Vegetation, pervious soils, and natural grades often serve to buffer a resource area from the impacts of development. Although, activities in the buffer zone require a filing with the Commission, many of these activities are allowed. Those with no impact to the adjacent resource areas usually require no mitigation measures. Those activities in the buffer zone that could potentially impact the adjacent resource area must be mitigated. Activities that cannot be mitigated, cannot be permitted.

4. Where can I get a map of the trails in Manchester?

The conservation office has trail maps for Chebacco Woods, which is jointly owned by the Towns of Hamilton and Manchester. All other trail maps can be obtained from the Manchester-Essex Conservation Trust, 978-526-7692.

5. How long does it take to get a permit?

An applicants clock starts ticking the moment a completed application is brought in. The emphasis is on complete. The conservation administrator will call you and alert you to any omissions. The Commission has 21 days to review the application and hold a public hearing. Although an application may be complete, upon review the Commission may decide that it needs additional information in order to make an informed decision. If this is the case, the hearing may be continued. After the hearing is closed, the Commission has 21 days to issue a permit. In general, the conservation administrator tries to issue permits soon after the hearing, however, a permit cannot be issued until DEP has reviewed the file and issued a State number. State numbers can be delayed due to incomplete submissions to the State or if the forms are not mailed to the state promptly (the applicant's responsibility).

6. How do I notify abutters?

Notice of Intent and Abbreviated Notice of Intent applications require abutter notification. The town assessors office will provide you with a list of abutters. All abutters must be notified about the date and time of the public hearing via certified mail or hand delivery.

7. Can I cut down trees in or near a wetland?

Not without checking with the conservation administrator first. Even dead trees prevent erosion and host wildlife. Not all tree cutting requires a filing, but all tree cutting in the buffer zone requires checking.

8. Can I clean out my stream?

Click here to learn more about Stream Cleaning. 

9. Do I need to file for landscaping?

Most landscaping within 100 feet of a resource area, other than maintaining existing vegetation, would require some sort of filing.

10. I don't know whether I have a wetland near me. How can I tell?

Call the Conservation Commission office and ask for the Conservation Administrator to take a look at the project area. Although the administrator will not delineate and flag an exact wetland line for you (the applicant must hire environmental consultants for that), she can give you a rough idea of the extent of the wetland line.

▼

Marriage Licenses

Show All Answers

1. How do we apply for a marriage license?

You must both apply together, in person, for a marriage license. Both parties must have photo identification. This applies to both residents and non-residents of the Commonwealth. According to Massachusetts law, you must jointly file intentions to marry, and you may do so with the city or town clerk in any community in the state. If a person is in the military, intentions may be filed by either party, providing one is a Massachusetts resident. A marriage license is valid for 60 days from the time the intentions are filed and may be used in any city or town in the state. It is not valid outside of Massachusetts.

2. Is there a waiting period from the date of application to the date the license is issued?

There is a mandatory three-day waiting period.

3. May we marry before the three days for good reason?

Yes, you can obtain a court waiver after filing intentions.

4. What is the cost of a marriage license?

A marriage license costs $35.00 in Manchester-by-the-Sea.

5. How old must we be to get married?

Massachusetts residents must be age 18 to marry. If either party is under 18, a court order from a probate or district court must be obtained before intentions can be filed.

6. Do we need to have blood tests?

No. That requirement was repealed as of January, 2005.

7. What if one or both of us has been divorced?

You are not required to present a divorce certificate when filing intentions to marry. However, you should be aware of any waiting period post divorce before you are able to re-marry. It varies by state but in Massachusetts it is a 90 day waiting period.

8. Do we need any witnesses present at the ceremony?

Massachusetts law does not require any witness to be present at the ceremony.

9. What should we do if an out-of-state member of the clergy is performing the marriage?

Please see the Secretary of States Office page.

10. Who should I call if I have more questions?

You can contact the Town Clerk, Dianne K Bucco at (978)-526-2040 townclerk@manchester.ma.us 

▼

Police Department

Show All Answers

1. How do I get a License to Carry a firearm?

Once you have completed the Firearms Safety Course, come by the station, call 978-526-1212 or email the Firearms Administrator, Patrice Rotundo (rotundop@manchester.ma.us), to set up an appointment.

2. What do I do if I get stopped by a police officer?

Remain calm. Safely and slowly pull to the side of the road. Put your car in park and leave your hands on the steering wheel with your window down.

3. How can I change my address on my license after I have moved?

After you move to a new address, Massachusetts State Law requires that you report the address change within 30 days to the Registry of Motor Vehicles. Please visit the RMV to learn more. 

online.

4. How do I pay a parking or speeding ticket?

Speeding Tickets: After receiving a citation for a motor vehicle offense you have 20 days to either request a court hearing or pay the fine. To do either, read and follow the directions on the back side of the citation. Follow the directions on ticket to make a payment. 

Parking Tickets: Please follow the directions on the ticket. See the Town Clerk with questions or pay online. 

online.

5. How do I report a motor vehicle crash to the Registry of Motor Vehicles?

Some Motor vehicle crashes must be reported to the Registry of Motor Vehicles. The blank reporting form can be picked up at any police station or be downloaded from the RMV. 

RMV Website.

▼

Public Works

Show All Answers

1. Where can I find the 2023 Collection Calendar?

2023 Collection Schedule

2. What if my trash, recyclables or pre-scheduled curbside large item was not collected?

Republic would like to hear from you; please call them directly at 800-323-4285.

3. What if my food waste was not collected?

Black Earth would like to hear from you; please call them directly at 978-290-4610.

4. When is the compost site open?

The Manchester compost site is open from Spring through late Fall. Opening and closing dates are subject to weather conditions. Hours are Thursday, Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. 

5. When is the transfer station open?

Transfer Station will be open on Saturdays 10 AM - 3 PM Closed on holidays. 

6. How do I dispose of a large item like a mattress, boxspring, chair, etc.?

Pre-scheduled pick-up required: call Republic at 1-800-323-4285. Multiple items per household per week allowed. Items must be placed curbside by 7am on your trash day. Only pre-scheduled/pre-paid items will be collected. 

7. How do I dispose of televisions, laptops and computer monitors?

Prepaid sticker required to drop off at the Transfer Station. Contact the Town Clerk's office to purchase a sticker at 978-526-2040.  Items may also be picked up curbside after scheduling by calling Republic at 1-800-323-4285.

8. How do I dispose of freezers, refrigerators and air-conditioners?

Pre-paid sticker is required to drop off at the Transfer Station. Please contact the Town Clerk's office to purchase a sticker at 978-526-2040.

9. What can I do with rechargeable and button batteries and fluorescent bulbs?

Bring fluorescent bulbs to the transfer station. 

Rechargeable batteries can be brought to the second floor of Town Hall. 

Button batteries do not contain mercury so can now be disposed of in the trash.

10. How do I dispose of construction waste?

A small amount of construction waste may be placed curbside if entirely contained within one orange trash bag. No construction waste may be dropped at the transfer station, even in an orange bag.

11. What do I do with tires and auto batteries?

Tires are not  accepted at the transfer station and must be disposed of privately.  View the MassDEP Waste Bans flyer for suggestions. Auto batteries can be taken to the Transfer Station with a pre-purchased $10 sticker, available from the Town Clerk at Town Hall. Please see attendant at Transfer Station for specific location details.

12. When is the next hazardous waste disposal day in Manchester?

The Board of Health runs hazardous waste disposal days; please visit the Board of Health webpage for more information: Click Here

13. How do I get information about cemeteries, including pricing?

Manchester Cemetery Information

14. I have water and/or sewer questions...

Please call Sue Taylor, the Water & Sewer Clerk on: 978-526-4450

15. I have a question about a Town-owned tree...

Click here for Information about Town trees.

▼

Real Estate Taxes

Show All Answers

1. What are the due dates for Real Estate/Personal Property Taxes?

Tax bills are issued four times a year. The quarterly tax payments are due on the following dates: August 1; November 1; February 1; May 1.

2. What if I don’t receive a Real Estate/Personal Property Bill?

You may call the Collector’s office for a copy at 978-526-2030. Under state law, Chapter 60, Section 3, failure to receive a bill does not affect the validity either of a tax or the proceedings for its collection.

3. What happens if I pay my Taxes late?

Interest of 14% per annum will start accruing at the close of business on the due date.

4. Are postmark dates accepted?

No, payments must be received by close of business on the due date to be considered timely. Online payments made by 11:59pm on the due date will also be considered timely.

5. Where do I mail my Tax payment?

You have three options: 1. You can send it to our lockbox by using the envelope enclosed. 2. You can personally come into the Town Hall and pay your bill or 3. You can pay online on our

6. How do I change the old owner’s name that appears on the Tax Bill, after purchase of the property?

All change of addresses must be made with the Assessor’s office.

7. Am I entitled to an abatement?

See the Assessor’s office page.

8. What happens if there is an overpayment on my Tax bill?

Overpayments will be applied to the next quarter unless it is the last quarter of the fiscal year. Overpayment will be refunded to the assessed owner.

9. What happens if I don’t pay my Real Estate Tax?

Tax payments must be received on or before the due date to avoid interest and demand. If payment is not made on or before the due date the account will begin to accrue interest rate of 14% per annum, computed form the date the bill was due.
On the 4th quarter bill a demand notice will be sent and a demand fee of $5.00 is charged to the account. I the account remains delinquent the owner’s Name, Address and the amount of outstanding taxes will be advertised in the Manchester Cricket and the advertising fee will be charged to the account. If the account remains delinquent a tax lien (a legal claim on the property for debt) is placed on the property and is recorded with the Essex South Registry of Deeds. A tax lien is the first step in the foreclosure process. All taxes, interest and incidental expenses must be paid to prevent foreclosure.

10. What happens if I don't pay my Personal Property Tax?

Assessed owners of personal property bills will receive a warrant issued by the Deputy Collector and additional fees will be added to the bill if the demand bill is not paid by the due date.

11. What should I do if I recently sold my property, but I am still receiving a tax bill?

If you receive a bill, please forward it to the new owner immediately as it is his/her responsibility to make payment.

12. What if I am buying a condominium that is in the middle of a conversion?

Until the conversion is completed, the property is recognized as just one parcel. There is one bill for all units and it is between you and all the other unit owners how the real estate bill is divided.

▼

Tax Collection

Show All Answers

1. I didn't get my tax bill, what should I do?

If you do not receive your bill within a few days of the issue date (please see schedule below), please contact the Treasurer/Collector's office at 978-526-2030. Our office hours are Monday thru Wednesday 9:00am to 5:00pm and Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Please remember it is your responsibility to make sure you pay your bill, regardless if it received. Under Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 60, Section 3, failure to receive a bill does not affect the validity either of a tax or the proceedings for its collection. We mail the bills to the addresses that are provided to us from the Assessor's Office.

Real Estate and Personal Property Tax bills are mailed four times a year. The quarterly tax payments are due on the following dates: August 1st; November 1st; February 1st; May 1st. The bills are issued thirty (30) days prior to these due dates.

Motor Vehicle bills are annually issued early in the calendar year for all vehicles, as well as throughout the year for any changes to vehicle registration or ownership initiated at the RMV. It is recommended you contact the Tresurer/Collector's Office if you do not see an excise bill by the end of January for your annual excise tax, as well as within 30 days of any changes initiated at the RMV. Water/Sewer bills are issued quarterly, typically in the months of August, November, February, and May. These bills are due 30 days after issue. Please contact the Water Department at 978-526-6424 with any questions on these bills, including issue dates. Boat excise bills are issued annually in the fall and are due within 60 days of issue. Please contact the Harbormaster at 978-526-7832 with questions on boat excise bills.

2. I am the new owner of the Property and the old owner's name still appears on the bill?

Per Massachusetts General Law, the owner of record on January 1st of a given calendar year shall remain owner of record for the following fiscal year. If the Assessor's have a copy of your deed, your name will be shown on the bill as "in care of". It is especially important to make sure you are receiving/paying bills during this transitional period, as you will still be responsible for the taxes (and any resulting penalty) in the event you do not pay timely. Please contact the Treasurer/Collector's Office at 978-526-2030 with any questions.

3. Do you accept postmarks?

No, we do not accept postmarks. The payment must be received on or before close of business on the due date. If you are unsure what time the office closes on any given due date, please call 978-526-2030. Payments may be made online 24 hours a day.

4. I sold my home but I am still receiving the bill?

Please contact the Treasurer/Collector's office at 978-526-2030 immediately and we will forward the bill to the new owner.

5. My taxes are escrowed with the bank/mortgage company, what do I do with the bill?

The tax bill will be mailed directly to you. It is your responsibility to forward the bill to your bank/mortgage company payment, if required to do so.

6. Do we accept credit cards or online payments?

Yes, credit, debit, and ACH-electronic check payments are accepted online. Please visit the Online Payments center for more information.

7. I received a personal property bill and I don't own the business any longer?

Please contact the Assessor's Office immediately to see if you are eligible to receive an abatement of the bill. If not, you are responsible for the payment of that bill.

▼

Water Department

Show All Answers

1. Where does our water come from?

Gravelly Pond in Hamilton off Upper Pine St / Chebacco Road provides 60% of our water and Lincoln Street Well (LSW) next to the high school provides 40% of our water (on average)

2. I thought we have plenty of water, so why is the Task Force recommending significant conservation?

We are fortunate, thanks to the foresight of townspeople 100+ years ago, that our supply is relatively stable and meets our current demands. This puts us in a much better situation than our neighbors who rely on the Ipswich River Basin (or any other stressed water basin).  But our plentiful supply is endangered by more-frequent droughts and by unsafe levels of PFAS, as is the case for many water systems. For instance, Cambridge MA had an excellent water supply via Fresh Pond, until suddenly increased PFAS levels shut down that local water supply. Cambridge shifted to the MWRA Quabbin Reservoir system, thanks to an existing connection to MWRA water. (We don’t have the option of connecting to MWRA.) If PFAS levels exceed the new EPA standards (now under review), we may have to shut down Lincoln Street Well which supplies 40% of our drinking water. This would trigger an immediate water crisis, which could only be solved locally through increased treatment and/or conservation.

3. What is the water rate tier structure?

What is the water rate tier structure? (Here’s a link to the current Rates & Tiers.)

The tier structure is progressive and marginal, just like federal income tax. The more water you use, the more you pay. When your usage crosses certain thresholds, your marginal rate per gallon increases. However, you only pay the higher marginal rate on the amount of water you use above the prior tier.

Here’s the Task Force’s recommended new rates & tiers:

4. Why did the Water Task Force recommend changing the Water Rates?

To promote needed water conservation (see #2), increasing the rates is one of several initiatives the Task Force recommended. We use a lot of water, at least 50% more than neighboring towns on a yearly per capita basis. Manchester averages 80 gallons per person per day. Boston is at 32, Cambridge at 42, Hamilton at 44, Essex at 45. Summer usage increase is twice that of neighboring towns. Many of our households are under 40 gallons per capita per day, however high outdoor water usage pushes our averages into a very high range.

5. How would the proposed rate changes affect me?

65% of users would see the same or lower water bills.  One-third would see a 10% to 30% increase and some dozens of households using very large amounts of water will see a 50% increase or more if their water consumption does not change.

6. Won’t the proposed water rates unfairly penalize large families?

NO. Large families will pay higher-tier rates only if they use a lot of water outdoors, just like smaller families. Larger families’ indoor usage will almost never reach the proposed top 2 tiers, where rates are increased. In fact, based on their indoor (essential) water use, almost all families would pay less under the proposed water rates.

7. When could the Water Rates change?

The Select Board is expected to review the proposed rates in the fall. If approved, they might go into effect in Q4 2023 or later.

8. The Task Force recommended lowering the Tier 1 rate – isn’t that an incentive to consume more and not to conserve?

Not really, since each additional gallon still costs something and a significant increase in usage would put you into a higher rate tier.  The proposed reduced rates in Tier 1 are designed as a reward for the good behavior of households already conserving our Town’s drinking water (by minimizing their outdoor water usage, in almost every case.)

9. Why not institute an increased rate structure for summer months only?

That was considered by the Task Force, but the real culprit is outside watering and not indoor “essential” usage in the summertime. So increased summer rates would penalize somewhat those households which limit themselves to “essential” indoor usage.

10. I hear that new digital “smart” water meters are being considered for all water users in town. When will they be installed?

25 households will be testing 2 varieties of smart water meters for the next year or so. They’ll be chosen from over 100 water customers who’ve volunteered. Based on the study results, the Town will pick a vendor and new meters will be provided without charge to all Manchester households and businesses. You’ll be able to track your own water usage in real time, right on your smartphone. (Our existing meters are beyond their 15-20 year expected lifespan and overdue for replacement.)

11. Would the proposed rates also affect my separate meter for irrigation?

Yes, all meters will be billed using the same rate structure.

12. Are the sewer rates also going up?

Sewer rates are not affected by the proposed new water rates. They were raised 2.5% for Fiscal Year 2024.

13. I have a tenant who’s also on my water meter – how will that be handled?

Some meters serve multi-unit properties.  The bills from such a meter will be divided by the number of units it services and then the tiered rate pricing structure will be applied to each unit’s portion of usage.

14. Will everyone in the Top 20% see higher water bills under the recommended new rates?

That depends on how they respond to this conservation effort.  If they reduce their water consumption by as little as 10%, many will not see an increase in their water costs.

15. I’ve heard that the State recommends 65 gallons/day per person. Is that a regulation?

No, it’s not a law but a State targeted maximum which affects approval of grants and permits from the DEP. Reasonably conserving summer irrigation water will help us meet this metric while also saving money down the line, as we’ll treat less water and be less likely to need an expensive third source of water (in addition to Gravelly Pond and Lincoln Street Well). With reasonable conservation, Manchester can continue to rely on voluntary cooperation with watering restrictions. 

16. What is the quality and cost of Manchester’s water?

Manchester’s town drinking water is of equal quality to most bottled water. Our exemplary water treatment facilities can monitor and control most aspects of water quality (see the Annual Drinking Water Quality Reports). And town drinking water is much less expensive (at around 1 cent per gallon) than bottled water (which costs $3-5 per gallon). Our water rates could go up in the next several years when we add very expensive PFAS remediation, but will never approach bottled water prices.

17. If enough households cut their summer water usage, wouldn’t that bankrupt our Water Division?

The less water we treat and pump, the less cost the Water Division incurs. In practice, it will take some time and more than just higher rates to change our behaviors toward water conservation. The Task Force has a series of recommendations to encourage intelligent conservation and aims to implement these consistently over the coming years.  The goal is to be revenue neutral – collecting the same amount of money while pumping less water, primarily to high volume users.

18. How can I conserve more drinking water?

1. Really glad you asked - educating all households on the techniques and benefits of conservation is an important goal for Manchester. For your outdoor water usage, you could start with an informative pamphlet from NorthShore Greenscapes, available free of charge at Town Hall. This pamphlet will periodically be distributed to households. In addition, rebates and discounts on rain barrels are already available. Future plans include additional conservation suggestions and water audits, similar to MassSave electric usage, insulation audits, and setback thermostats.

19. Do we really want to encourage high usage households to drill their own irrigation wells?

Some households in Manchester already have their own irrigation wells, many of which are more than adequate for their outside water needs. At least one private irrigation well serves several neighboring households. Irrigation wells don’t require the expensive treatment we give to potable drinking water. And almost no high usage households are in the supply zones of the Lincoln Street Well and Gravelly Pond, so there shouldn’t be any interference with public water supplies.

20. What’s my water usage over the past 10 years?

If you have not saved your water bills you can contact the Water Department at 978-526-1242 and they will send you the 10 year water consumption history for your address.

21. Is everyone eventually going to get a digital smart water meter?

Yes.

22. Where can I read the findings of the Water Task Force?

The final report of the Task Force was delivered on June 20, 2023 and can be found here.

23. Isn’t this just a disguised tax increase aimed at larger properties?

No, this is not a tax increase. First, payments for water go to an account which is separate and used exclusively to pay for providing safe drinking water. These payments cannot be mingled with taxes and general revenues. Second, Manchester’s summer usage increase is more than twice that of neighboring towns.  Larger properties have larger water bills because they use a lot of water for irrigation in the summer.  We hope that the large property water users will reduce the amount of water that they use for irrigation.  Then their water bills will not increase, or at least not much.  The Task Force’s intent is to be revenue neutral.

24. What if these new rates are enacted but don’t encourage much water conservation?

In that event, we will continue to promote more conservation initiatives, including perhaps further water rate increases.