Select Board endorses water master plan and comprehensive study as town grapples with revenue squeeze

The West Newbury Select Board voted to endorse two warrant articles to investigate the town’s water system and rates, moving the issue closer to voters and to project-level planning.

Town water staff presented an FY27 enterprise budget of about $1.19 million and told the board that conservation measures have reduced usage and revenue, while debt service and deferred capital needs keep pressure on rates. "The conservation rate was a great idea at the time, but we got people to use a lot less water," the water representative said, noting millions of gallons less usage and lower revenue as a result.

Why it matters: The master plan and comprehensive technical study are intended to clarify long-term capital needs (especially fire-flow and infrastructure), model rate impacts and identify funding options. Without those studies, the board said, it is difficult to forecast future debt-service obligations that will shape rates and retained-earnings decisions.

What the board endorsed: The Select Board backed an article authorizing roughly $45,000 for a water system master plan focused on infrastructure and capital improvements and a separate $24,600 article for a technical comprehensive water/rate study. Board members raised questions about scope — whether the studies should focus on fire-flow-driven pipe and storage upgrades, potable supply alternatives, or both — and emphasized that the scope should explicitly consider regionalization as a long-term option.

Staff detail and next steps: Water staff and the manager said the master-plan work would review capital needs, potential timing for projects and the department’s ability to finance them. The comprehensive study will include rate modeling and supply options. Both studies were tied to timing on warrant articles and a sunset date discussed as June 30, 2027 for related work items. The board will present the endorsed articles at town meeting and follow up with more detailed scopes for bidders before contracting.

The vote: The board indicated unanimous support to endorse both articles during the meeting; the items will appear on the spring warrant for town meeting consideration.

Grounding in the record: The board’s deliberations emphasized transparency in scope and the need to align any proposed capital program with realistic rate-path scenarios so that voters understand long-term costs.

What’s next: If voters approve the articles, staff will finalize scopes and proceed to procurement for the studies. The master plan findings are expected to inform future capital articles, rate discussions and any decision about regionalization or major infrastructure investment.