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Cohasset Officials: Pay Up Or We'll Shut Off Water

COHASSET (CBS) - One South Shore town is considering drastic measures to get residents to pay their outstanding water bills.

Cohasset's water commissioners want to pull the plug on residents who haven't paid up, by turning off their water.

The town is owed more than $200,000 in back water bills.

Commission chair Peter DeCaprio says the state revenue department is forcing the board's hand because of the way it classifies retained earnings.

"They also expect you to institute programs and policies to catch up on that retained earnings deficit. One of the ways they want you to do it is by having an aggressive collections program," DeCaprio told WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kim Tunnicliffe.

The town manager is against the idea of water shutoffs because he says they coincide with the holidays.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kim Tunnicliffe reports

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But DeCaprio disputes that claim, saying the crackdown likely won't start until 2012.

The commissioners say they will work with residents and businesses to come up with payment plans.

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