LIVERMORE FALLS — Sewer customers will get one bill starting next year and pay it in two installments, which is expected to save money, including mailing costs.
Users currently get four bills a year and make payments four times a year, interim Town Manager Alex Pawson said.
Selectmen voted 4-0 on Jan. 17 to approve the change, which starts April 20, 2024. Chairman Jim Long, Vice Chairman Ernie Souther and Selectmen Will Kenniston and Jim Cyr approved the motion; Bruce Peary abstained but gave no reason.
Sewer Superintendent Mark Holt estimated the town has about 720 customers.
Holt also brought up moving to a water usage system to determine each customer’s sewer bills. The current billing practice is Livermore Falls employees assess a minimum usage fee based on the number of equivalent units a building contains. They then add a minimum fee based on the amount of water used for the building, he said.
About 12 years ago, after hundreds of hours of deliberations and calculations, the town of Jay decided to make the change to a sewer billing format based on water usage versus tracking the number of equivalent units, Holt said.
“I believe the town of Livermore Falls would benefit by instituting the same methodology for (its) sewer billing practices, which could save the (town) money spent on purchasing all water meter readings for the entire year from the Livermore Falls Water District and tracking the number of equivalent units each building in town contains,” according to Holt.
The town staff could send the sewer bills with the annual property tax bills, which are also paid in two installments, he said.
Assessing a building’s sewer fee based on usage is fair and equitable because those who use more, pay more, and those who use less pay less, he said.
Selectmen are expected to take the proposal up at a later date.
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