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Crews from hired contractor, Baltazar Contractor, are shown working on major Provin Mountain Reservoir water line construction project segment in Agawam.

(File photo / John Suchocki)

SPRINGFIELD - The Springfield Water and Sewer Commission is encouraging the public to attend its annual budget hearing Tuesday night regarding a proposed $58.7 million budget for the new fiscal year and a planned increase in the water and sewer rates.

The hearing is at 6 p.m., at City Hall, 36 Court St., and commission invites any public comments or questions. The new fiscal year 2016 budget, once approved, would go into effect July 1, 2015.

The commission is proposing a $58.7 million budget for fiscal 2016, including debt service, as compared to the current budget of $59.7 million.

As proposed, the operational budget is increasing by 1 percent, but the annual debt service is declining from $14.4 million for the current year to approximately $13 million in the new fiscal year, said Joyce Mulvaney, commission spokeswoman.

There is also a proposed $18.2 million capital improvement budget.

As proposed, the typical household water and sewer bill is expected to increase an average of $42.06 annually, or about $3.51 per month, Mulvaney said.

"The rate increases are primarily driven by unfunded federal and state regulatory mandates in addition to implementing critical repairs, upgrades and replacement needs," Mulvaney said.

As proposed, the residential water will increase from $2.66 per 100 cubic feet this fiscal year to $2.78 per 100 cubic feet in fiscal 2016.

In addition, the residential sewer rate would increase from $4.34 per 100 cubic feet to $4.56 per 100 cubic feet in fiscal 2016.

The commission serves water customers in Springfield and Ludlow. In addition, the commission provides wholesale water to Agawam, East Longmeadow and Longmeadow, and partial service to West Springfield, Westfield and Southwick, according to the commission.

The commission treats waste water from households and busiensses within Springfield and member communities including Agawam, East Longmeadow, Longmeadow, Ludlow, Wilbraham, West Springfield and a small section of Chicopee, according to the commission.

The hearing begins will a presentation from the administration and staff regarding the water and sewer operational budget, capital improvement budget, and rate proposals.