May 12, 2025 Wastewater Management District Commission

At its May 12 meeting, the Wayland Wastewater Management District Commission voted unanimously to support a 10% across-the-board rate increase for fiscal year 2026, citing favorable revenue trends, stable operations, and anticipated capital expenditures. A public hearing and vote are scheduled for June 9.
Wastewater Administrator Sarah Pawluczonek confirmed that actual revenues were holding steady at $535,000, attributing the higher-than-expected collections to timely payments and potentially some back payments. Commissioners discussed adjusting future revenue projections to $520,000 annually, up from the previously used baseline of $506,000. Discussion focused on whether the higher-than-expected revenue represents a new baseline or a temporary anomaly.

Matthew Abrahams of the Abrahams Group presented updated financial projections. The district’s wastewater user revenue for FY25 was reported at $535,000 as of April’s close, surpassing previous estimates of $524,000. Abrahams revised his financial model accordingly and noted the new figure implies a projected surplus of around $120,000 for FY25. This assumes the full use of appropriated retained earnings, which Pawluczonek clarified includes $123,000 already set aside for capital and betterment-related spending.

Abrahams’ Option 1, a flat 12.5% annual rate increase, was presented as a baseline to spread out new costs to users while funding upcoming capital expenses until 2030. However, under Option 4, the commission would implement a 10% rate increase in FY26, followed by slightly higher increases in later years while maintaining the minimum industry standard of 20% retained earnings (emergency reserves). Anticipated increases in revenues from increased flow from new businesses and the Council of Aging opening are expected to help mitigate future rate increases.

The commission has incorporated into the budget forecasts a long-term infrastructure maintenance and resilience strategy that is intended to address aging system components before they fail. A projected $2 million dollar replacement of a low-pressure force main will be financed through a 20-year municipal bond at a projected interest rate of 4.5%.

According to Abrahams, the capital project is scheduled for design and debt issuance in fiscal year 2028. The $125,000 design phase borrowing has annual debt service beginning in FY28 at around $12,000 and debt service for the construction phase borrowing is estimated to start in FY29 at just under $200,000 per year.

Jared Cotton, operations manager, reported steady flows averaging around 31,000 gallons per day, up from historical averages near 25,000 GPD. He confirmed the Council on Aging’s connection was secure and tested, though flow has not yet begun. The Library’s internal plumbing is not yet complete. He also updated the commission on completion of maintenance and SCADA control system upgrades, reporting that system functionality and power backup issues had been resolved.

No new requests for sewer connections were formally presented, though Pawluczonek noted continued inquiries related to development around Town Center and former Whole Foods area. Commissioners emphasized the importance of communicating clearly to residents how the district manages capacity and sets privilege fees using Title 5 design flows as a standardized metric.