In the debate over Article 3, a proposal asking Rockport residents to commit $52 million for a new wastewater treatment facility and sewer extension, we have heard from the Rockport Select Board and others that our sewer costs are too high because Camden charges us too much.  Proponents of Article 3 have also argued that the only way to reduce our sewer rates is to build our own treatment facility.  Both arguments are false.

Since 2010, Rockport sewer rates have increased from $9.38 per hundred cubic feet (HCF) to $20.  During this time, we have paid Camden annual fees ranging from $142,530 in FY 09-10 to $211,091 in FY 20-21, the year before the Select Board made the ill-informed decision to stop paying the full invoices from Camden.  Our wastewater budget has increased from $785,539 in FY 09-10 to $2,229,229 in FY 23-24.  Payments to Camden represent less than 20% of our total wastewater budget.  

Why are our rates so high – the answer lies in the other costs on the Rockport wastewater budget.  For example, since 2010, the amount we pay Woodard & Curran to manage the collection system has increased from $184,794 to $324,399.  The wastewater budget also includes a substantial portion of several town employees’ salaries, including: 18% of the Town Manager, 25% of the Finance Director, 6% of the Finance Assistant, 10% of the Code Enforcement Officer and 15% of the planner.  These percentages have all increased since 2010.  Do those employees really spend so much of their time managing the sewer system?  The so-called “administrative costs” also include legal fees related to our ill-advised lawsuit with Camden.  These administrative costs totaled $226,899 in FY23-24.  Other costs, such as payments to Rockland and the maintenance of our own collection system make up the remainder.  Camden is clearly not to blame for our high costs.

The Select Board has also argued that building our own treatment facility will reduce our sewer rates.  This is not true.  In fact, even their own model shows rates increasing over the next 10 years.  But we recently learned that their model is deeply flawed, and that with appropriate revisions their own model shows that the average sewer user will pay over $5,500 MORE over the next 10 years with a new wastewater facility, compared to continuing our collaboration with Camden.  Most of this increase is related to the proposed $52 million bond.

Let’s stop the misinformation campaign.  Please vote NO on Article 3.  

Samantha Appleton, Tom Young, Maryanne Young, Mary Amory, Tom Amory live in Rockport