Taxpayers can expect to shell out more for water and sewer services starting in February after city council approved a bylaw amendment that officially updates the percentage increases.
During the Jan. 9 regular meeting, council gave three unanimous readings to Bylaw No. 5679, Sewer and Water Utility Bylaw Amendment, which updates the bylaw for this year’s utility rate increase of four per cent for water and three per cent for sewer, effective Feb. 1.
The bylaw update also increases the interest rate charged on installment payment plans to seven per cent from four per cent.
The bylaw amendment goes into effect immediately because council unanimously approved it. Council initially approved all of these adjustments during the 2023 budget discussions.
The waterworks increase will add an extra $2.86 per month or $34.32 per year to bills, while the sanitary sewer increase will add an extra $1.72 per month or $20.64 per year to bills, based on information from the 2023 budget document.
That will be an extra $4.58 per month or $54.96 per year for both utilities.
Taxpayers will also pay a new annual infrastructure levy of $100 to support parks and recreation upgrades this year, which means most annual utility bills will increase by $154.96. Since homeowners continue to pay the annual $100 infrastructure levy for the cast iron replacement program, those bills could increase to $254.96.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, Jan. 23.
