HAMPDEN – Town councilors intend to scrutinize a proposed double-digit increase in the water rate to determine whether it’s justified.

Residents in Hampden received notice in recent days of a $206,385 across the board increase the Hampden Water District intends to seek from the Public Utilities Commission. If approved, the rate hike would be effective the start of next year and would mean a 26 percent increase to residential, commercial, public and private fire protection users alike.

“That’s a sizable increase for our budget,” said Hampden Mayor Rick Briggs, noting at Monday’s council meeting that Hampden residents are not only going to see their own rates go up, but also foot the bill for the public fire protection.

What the town pays for hydrant costs would increase from the $275,000 the town budgeted to $310,000, said Town Manager Sue Lessard. She said the budgeted figure had an increase already built into it.

Briggs said he is concerned about not only the effects on the average resident, but also on the retiree on a fixed income and that as a council they should be looking to reduce costs, not increase them.

In the letter to customers, district treasurer Cameron Torrey states the increase will cover existing and proposed debt as well as meet rising operating expenses.

In anticipation of an Aug. 3 hearing on the matter, Briggs said he wants more information so that councilors can be prepared for any questions, even though as a separate, quasi-public entity, the water district doesn’t come under the jurisdiction of the council. Councilors said they have been trying since last December to meet with the water district for a joint session.

This wouldn’t be the first time the council has sought to take a closer look at water costs. The council scrutinized a rate hike a few years ago – fees went up 64 percent for commercial and residential use in 2002 – and at that time concluded that the rate hikes had been justified.

“We’re just going to make doubly sure it is needed,” Briggs said.

And if it isn’t?

“If it’s not justified, we’ll probably be as vocal as anybody,” Briggs said.

Briggs’ comments are tempered with a measure of understanding that the water district has miles of water lines to maintain, pipes that date back 50 or more years and that projects like repairs done on the Kennebec and Mayo roads and in conjunction with the Route 1A repairs are costly. Upgrades like fencing around water towers, required by federal authorities in the wake of Sept. 11, also add to the bill.

But Briggs also strongly suggested that some of this is of the water district’s own making for putting off repair and replacement projects for years and have “come back all at once.”

Councilor Ed Murphy said his support of the measure may hinge on whether the increases include water district work to be done on the next stage of state road work being done on Route 1A.

In other action Monday, the council authorized bids being sought for replacing the lighting at the tennis courts. Hampden Recreation Director Kurt Mathies said that the lights are about 20 years old and only two of the eight in place actually work. One of the two needs to have a bulb replaced. Funding for the replacement of the lights would come from a reserve account.