Ayer Rate Review Committee to model transfer station fee hike scenarios

AYER — September 9, 2025 — Ayer Rate Review Committee signals likely transfer station fee increase, first since 2023. Meeting Tuesday, the committee reviewed preliminary fiscal year 2025 finances showing the transfer station enterprise fund ended with a surplus of just $3,665 after a staff-imposed spending freeze, with total expenses rising from $556,000 in FY25 to a projected $573,000 in FY26. No rates have been raised since calendar year 2023, when standard permits went from $100 to $105, and 2022, when bag prices rose $1 per bag. Staff will model at least 15 rate scenarios — including no-increase options and finer-grained adjustments such as $2.50 on permits and 50 cents per bag — for a follow-up meeting September 23. The committee also confirmed stormwater utility billing, set at $95 annually, will launch October 1 after a software migration delay pushed the start date back one quarter from the planned July 1 rollout.