Few issues ignite public passions in the Bay State as much as water and sewer rates.
So it is not surprising that elected officials have different ideas on how to moderate the high costs associated with cleaning up Boston Harbor. Considering the volatility of water and sewer rates, particularly on the advent of a gubernatorial election year, the Cellucci administration has urged the MWRA to spread the cost of financing of a proposed new aqueduct facility over 50 years. The rate increase is attributable, among other things, to the increased costs of servicing previous bond issues and to the financing needs of a new aqueduct facility. On the surface, the Governor's preference appears to be a fair method of spreading the costs among ratepayers. A 50-year bond can lower yearly payments on the bond in the near term, although there are higher total repayment costs in the long run.