Watertown Council Adopts Noise Ordinance, Approves 4.5 Percent Water Rate Increase

WATERTOWN — July 14, 2026 — Watertown City Council adopts noise ordinance and 4.5 percent water rate hike while flagging a looming rate crisis. The council voted unanimously Monday to set water and sewer rates 4.5 percent higher for fiscal year 2027, but City Manager George Proakis and Director of Public Works Tom Brady warned that a rate-modeling error by consultants Weston and Sampson — in which an incorrect rate was applied to revenue projections in last year's study — has narrowed the city's window to avoid increases exceeding 8 percent in fiscal year 2028. "This error has not created a crisis in this fiscal year," Proakis said, "but we end up with a real problem because this is saying, to close our deficits, we have to be over eight percent next year." The matter is headed to the Budget and Fiscal Oversight Committee for a deep dive beginning in August. The council also adopted a long-developed noise ordinance 8-0-1 — Councilor Nicole Bays voting present after the body rejected, 7-1, her amendment to push the commercial lawn maintenance start time from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. on weekdays. The council approved a $750,000 loan order for a replacement fire engine and moved more than $3.5 million in fiscal year 2026 operating surpluses into capital and stabilization accounts, including a $690,000 waste disposal surplus that will fund six fleet vehicles without borrowing.