Government

Watertown Tax Relief Legislation Approved by House, Moves to Senate

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Watertown City and State officials appeared before a joint committee at the State House on Jan. 27, 2026, to discuss the City’s Home Rule Petition. Pictured, from left, Steve Owens, George Proakis, John Lawn, Earl Smith, and Mark Sideris. The City of Watertown’s effort to prevent a tax hike for residential property owners, which could be as high as 18%, cleared a major hurdle when it was approved the the House of Representatives on Beacon Hill. On July 8, the House unanimously approved the bill called “An Act relative to property tax classifications in the city of Watertown for fiscal year 2027 and subsequent fiscal years.”

Government

Water & Sewer Rates Increasing More Than Expected Due to Error in Calculations

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Watertown residents will see an increase of 4.5% in both the water and sewer rates for the fiscal year that began on July 1, 2026, which is slightly higher than forecasted a year ago. However, the future increase could be significantly higher than projected due in part to an error made calculating future year revenues. Last year, the City’s consultants, Weston & Sampson, projected a 4% increase in water and sewer rates in FY 2027. The actual increase will be half a percent higher, said Department of Public Works Director Thomas Brady. With the 4.5% increase, residents using 1,800 cubic feet of water will increase $5.10 per quarter ($115.28 to $120.38), and the sewer bill for using 1,800 cubic feet will increase $9.54 per quarter, from $213.48 to $223.02.

Government

Possible Purchase of Police Drone and Guidelines for Use Discussed by Council Committee

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The Watertown Police Department is considering purchasing a drone like this one made by Paladin Drones (Photo from Paladin)

An automated drone is one of the new technologies being considered by the Watertown Police Department. On July 9, the City Council’s Public Safety Committee held a hearing to ask questions and hear from the public about the possible use of a drone. The Police Department’s request to have a drone came up in May at a budget hearing. The drone being considered by the Watertown Police is made by Paladin Drones, and would cost $24,000 to purchase, plus an annual cost of $49,000. Paladin’s drones are use solely by public safety agencie, and the company currently works with 115 communities.

Government

City Council Moving Out of City Hall for July 14 Meeting

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The Parker Annex Building (Courtesy of City of Watertown)

The City Council will not be meeting it the usual place on July 14. The meeting will be held in the Parker Building at 7 p.m. The meeting includes a votes to set next year’s water and sewer rates, on proposed changes to the Noise Ordinance, and a presentation about the City’s Hazard Mitigation Plan. See more information provided by the City, below. Due to scheduled maintenance in the Watertown City Hall Council Chambers, the Watertown City Council Meeting on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, will not be held at City Hall. The meeting will instead take place at Parker Building in the Community Meeting Room, 2E.

Government

Police Drone to be Discussed by City Council’s Public Safety Committee

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The prospect of the Watertown Police Department using a drone will be discussed at the City Council’s Committee on Public Safety on July 9. The drone, which costs $49,396, would be dispatched to an area where a crime or incident like an auto accident is reported. It would be able to get anywhere in town in two minutes, which is faster than the typical response time for a police officer in a cruiser, Watertown Police Chief Justin Hanrahan told the City Council in March. The drone can fly automatically to a location, and can also be overridden and controlled manually. The drone would be dispatched from the Watertown 911 Center, and would not go out to every reported incident, Hanrahan said.

Government

Unwanted Surprises Drive Up Cost of Renovation of the City’s Parker Annex Building

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The Parker Annex Building (Courtesy of City of Watertown)

City officials have learned what it’s like to renovate a 100+ year old building, and the unwanted surprises that come with it. On Tuesday night, the City Council approved a $373,000 budget transfer to cover the cost of unexpected additional repairs, as well as to insulate the Parker Annex. The former elementary school on Watertown Street opened in 1914, and was sold by the Town in 1986. In 2022, the now City of Watertown bought back the building, which has been turned into office space. Since then, the City has been planning to turn Parker in to a City Hall annex, and hired contractors to renovate the building.

Government

New Middle School Moves a Step Closer to Reality; Council Approves Funds for Parks Projects

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A vision of what a new Watertown Middle School could look like created by Ai3 Architects and presented to the School Committee in October 2025. The possibility of building a new Middle School in Watertown moved a step closer to becoming a reality at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. The Council also approved funding for projects at City parks, the library, Police Station, and for Watertown’s Treaty Day celebration. On June 9, the Council approved a $3 million transfer of funds from the Middle School Stabilization Fund to pay for the design development of a possible Middle School. City Manager George Proakis stressed that the Council is still deciding whether or not to proceed with the project.

Government

City Council to Consider Changes to Noise Ordinance, Including New Allowed Hours for Lawn Work

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Watertown’s City Hall. Proposed changes to Watertown’s Noise Ordinance will soon be discussed by the City Council, including changes of hours for lawn and garden maintenance. In the latest in a series of efforts to update the City’s Noise Ordinance, the Council’s Committee on Rules and Ordinances held meetings in May and June to discuss changes. The Committee’s report was presented at the June 9 City Council Meeting by Councilor Nicole Gardner, chair of the Rules & Ordinances Committee. The Committee agreed to a statement of purpose for the Noise Ordinance, which said:

“Noise pollution is a serious hazard to public health, welfare, safety, and quality of life.