Kingston Water Board Approves Abatement Policy, Sends Three Budget Placeholders to Town Meeting

KINGSTON — March 24, 2026 — Kingston Water Commissioners approved a revised water bill abatement policy and authorized three placeholder town meeting articles Tuesday, all without dollar figures because the town's retained earnings have not been certified since November. Water Superintendent Chris told the board that a $900,000 engineering loan for the new South Street well now requires $300,000 in annual repayments — an obligation that did not appear on debt schedules provided to the department — and that a preliminary estimate puts available retained earnings at roughly $160,000, well below the typical $350,000 to $500,000 range. The three warrant articles, approved unanimously, cover maintenance of the Smith Lane water storage tank, purchase of a new superintendent's truck, and authorization for a South Street well pump replacement if needed. On the abatement policy, commissioners amended draft language requiring a licensed plumber's bill as proof of repair, replacing it with broader documentation options including repair receipts and photographic evidence, citing the potential burden on fixed-income ratepayers; the policy took effect the same day.