The Onset Fire District has called a Special Meeting for October 29. Although it’s unclear exactly what will be on the agenda, cutting costs will be part of the focus.

Last week, the Onset Water Commissioners voted to raise water rates by 19 percent to allow revenues to cover costs after experiencing a shortfall for the previous three years.

Prudential Committee Chairman Charles Klueber said none of the agenda items has been finalized, but that part of the intent of the meeting is to help make up for budgeting shortfalls.

“Most of it is housekeeping,” he said. “The water revenue is supposed to pay for [the water district’s] expenses, but they were behind. These moves will help balance the budget for this year.”

Klueber estimated that three or four measures would be voted on at the meeting. One, he said, would be a request to rescind a decision to start funding future "Other Post-Employment Benefits" (OPEB) for retired employees.

“In order to balance the budget, they need to rescind a couple of articles that were approved at the annual meeting” last spring, said Klueber. “It was voted on by the district to start funding that, but the funding is going to cause them to be short of their commitments.”

It’s not clear how large the gap is between water revenues and water expenses, but Brian O’Hern, clerk of the Onset Water Commissioners, said they expect to more than cover costs in the future.

“We’re going to raise a little more than we’re committed to,” said O’Hern, adding that the rate increase will bring in an additional $60,000 to $70,000 this year.

Klueber said another District Meeting issue would involve funding the contract negotiated between the district and recently unionized Fire Department employees.

Officials said they expect the warrant, containing the agenda for the district meeting, to be done on October 14.

All registered voters living within the Onset Fire District are entitled to attend and vote at district meetings.