A special assessment to meet the whole or part of the cost incurred
of laying pipes in public and private ways for the conveyance or distribution
of water to its inhabitants is hereby authorized. An owner of land
which receives benefit from the laying of water pipes in public and
private ways upon which his land abuts or which by more remote means
receives benefit through the supply of water to his land or buildings
shall pay a proportionate part of the cost as provided for below.
The amount to be charged against each parcel of land receiving such
benefit shall include the cost of the pipes and other material and
of the labor in laying them and other expenses incidental thereto
and shall be ascertained, assessed and certified by the Water Superintendent.
The City Engineer shall certify to the Water Superintendent,
for the purpose of assessments, the frontage of abutters on the street
or way through which the water pipes have been constructed.
Assessment for the cost of providing and laying water pipes
thereafter in public and private ways shall be made upon the several
parcels of land receiving benefit from the laying of such pipes by
a fixed uniform rate based upon the estimated average cost of all
the water pipes therein and the laying thereof, according to the frontage
of such land on any way in which a water pipe is laid.
Owners of estates or parts of estates not liable to assessment
or not in fact assessed, but who nonetheless by more remote means
receive benefit through the supply of water to their land or buildings,
shall pay for the laying and use of common water pipes an assessment
equal to the average assessment upon the owners of abutting parcels
to the street or way in which a water pipe is laid, as originally
ascertained, assessed and certified by the Water Superintendent.
The interest rate for a water assessment shall be 5% per year
in accordance with MGL c. 80, § 13.
A property owner may pay his or her assessment as follows: Make payment in full within 30 days of the billing date with no interest, pay part of the bill with any balance apportioned to the real estate tax bill for the parcel, apportion the entire assessment to the real estate tax bill for the parcel, or defer payment if eligible in accord with §
250-38. Any amount apportioned to the real estate tax bill for the parcel shall be paid within 20 years, along with interest which shall accrue in accordance with §
250-36 above.
A property owner may defer the betterment assessment if he or
she is 65 years of age or older pursuant to MGL c. 80, § 13B,
and qualify under MGL c. 59, § 5, Clause 41A.
Any sums collected by the City pursuant to this article shall
be deposited into an account solely to pay for the total project cost
assessed.