Sewer fee fight costs Worcester $27M, court rules — and the bill could keep growing

The Massachusetts Appeals Court upheld a lower court’s ruling that orders the city of Worcester to pay more than $30 million to Holden for overcharging the town for using the city’s sewer system.

Associate Justices Maureen E. Walsh, Paul Hart Smyth and William J. Meade on Monday affirmed the previous ruling of Superior Court Judge James Manitsas, who in 2023, ordered Worcester to pay Holden $26,525,786 with 12% added on post-judgment interest for each year the judgment is not paid.

Assuming Worcester does not pay in 2025, the city would owe Holden about $29.9 million.

A spokesperson for the city of Worcester told MassLive the city received the court’s decision and is “reviewing its options for appeal at this time.”

Holden officials did not immediately respond to requests from Massl