by Neil W. McCabe

The MWRA Advisory Board recognized Senator Shannon for his efforts in overriding the Governor’s veto of the Commonwealth Sewer Rate Relief Fund.

At the Senator’s insistence, the Senate restored the $10 million for the second time this budget cycle. The legislature also restored debt service assistance after Gov. Mitt Romney discontinued the program in his House 1 version of the Fiscal Year 2005 budget, said State Sen. Charles E. Shannon, D-Somerville.

MWRA and other water and sewer districts draw debt service assistance from to stabilize wholesale rate increases, he said.

“Senator Shannon’s actions allow the average rate increase for MWRA communities to drop from 3.9% to approximately 1.9%,” said Joseph Favaloro, executive director of the MWRA’s advisory board, which is comprised of representatives from each of the 60 MWRA-serviced communities.

This assistance will reduce assessments for fiscal year 2005 in the City of Somerville by $303,781, he said.
“I felt strongly that it was critical to restore the debt service line item to provide our ratepayers with some rate relief,” said Shannon.

The continued efforts of Shannon and his fellow members of the MWRA Legislative Caucus have been a driving force behind the Advisory Board’s success in advancing long-term rate stabilization, Favaloro said.

“MWRA ratepayers have a strong advocate and voice in Senator Shannon and the advisory board looks forward to continuing to work with him to protect the interests of ratepayers,” he said.