Gardner Council Approves 15 Percent Water Rate Increase, Rejects Mayor's Larger Proposal

GARDNER — May 18, 2026 — Gardner City Council moves a 15 percent water rate hike to first printing, rejecting the mayor's doubling proposal. The council, presided over Monday by Councilor Pro Tem Alexander Dernalowicz in the absence of Council President Tyros, voted unanimously to advance an ordinance setting the water rate at $7.48 per 100 cubic feet for fiscal year 2027 — up from the current $6.50 — after the Finance Committee unanimously rejected Mayor Nicholson's proposal for a 20 percent initial increase followed by an additional 40 percent over three years. Councilor Hegelin, presenting the Finance Committee's recommendation, attributed the rate crisis to a decades-long city practice of staggering water and sewer increases on alternating five-year cycles: "It puts us in a situation at the end of the cycle where we hope we don't run out of money before it's time to raise rates again." The council separately voted 7-0 to reallocate just over $1 million in unexpended bond proceeds to four capital projects, including a middle school roof whose bid came in $664,000 over budget, and also formally closed out the multi-year Mackie Park accessibility investigation after the Architectural Access Board notified the city on May 13 that the park is fully in compliance.