CARSTAIRS - Town council has approved an update to the municipality’s rates and fees bylaw, which calls for increases in a number of areas including council remuneration.
The approval came by way of motion at a recent regularly scheduled council meeting. The changes will came into effect on Jan. 1, 2023.
The bylaw sets the rates and fees changed for goods and services in more than two dozen categories, including water, wastewater and garbage collection, building development permits, campground and golf course.
Starting Jan. 1, 2023, the monthly remuneration for the mayor increases from $2,146.67 to $2,351.04, deputy mayor $1,867.60 to $2,045.40, councillors $1,652.94 to $1,810.30.
Mayor Lance Colby explained that any increase in remuneration for council members is governed by a policy put in place in the early 2000s that ties any change to census data.
“The policy was put in place in 2002 or 2003 where it was based on population,” Colby told the Albertan. “We don’t take COLA so it is based solely on that. At the time it was put in place by a committee of council and members of the public. It keeps things out of the hands of council; council can’t just give themselves raises.”
The metered single and multiple occupancy water rate per cubic metre increases from $2.91 to $3.08. The fixed rate of $14 per month remains unchanged.
The bulk water sales rate increases from $5.16 to $6 per cubic metre.
Sales of water meters and readout size up to one inch increases from $425 to $500.
Campground fees increase from $28 to $32 per recreational vehicle, from $23 to $27 per tent, firewood from $5 to $10 a wheelbarrow load, and sewage dump from $2 to $5.
A building permit fee for an accessory building 144 square feet is set at $110, the same a residential garage fee.
Green fees at the golf course in 2023 will be $52 for 18 holes Monday to Thursday, $62 Friday to Sunday and holidays, $30 for nine holes Monday to Thursday and $40 Friday to Sunday and holidays. In the past there were weekday and weekend rates.
“Right now everything we do now seems to cost 15 per cent more than ever, so we are trying to keep increases as low as possible because everyone is going through it,” said Colby.
“We are trying to keep things as low as we can so it doesn’t affect anyone too much.”
The arena ice rental rates remain unchanged from 2022.
