KINGFIELD — Selectmen will hold a public hearing next week to share plans to make the town’s wastewater treatment system economically viable.

The hearing is set for 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 17, at Webster Hall.

Selectmen have developed strategies over the past year to acquire enough revenue to cover the system’s annual expenses. They have concluded that higher quarterly user fees, combined with a per-gallon charge, would create a more equitable method of billing users. Those who process more volume through the system will pay more.

Townspeople also will hear details of a proposed $300,000 Community Development Block Grant to upgrade and improve the wastewater system.

Selectmen and town employees have met with Main-Land Development Consultants of Livermore Falls and have developed a cost schedule that could pay for upgrades and maintenance for the 30-year-old system. To qualify for the grant, Administrative Assistant Douglas Marble said the town must meet strict criteria. An income survey, with responses gathered by mail and visits to each household, includes nearly every household and property owners, Marble said. At least half the customers on the wastewater system must fit within low or moderate income guidelines.

The town bills more than 200 accounts, but at least 20 of those accounts won’t yield results, he said. Several vacant commercial and residential buildings will skew the results.

“It must have to do with the winter heating costs,” Marble said. “Some rentals are not occupied now, even though Sugarloaf is open and hiring.”

The surveys are due by Friday, Dec. 21, and the town must file a letter of intent to apply for the funding by Jan. 17.