Bowden residents will pay an average of about $10 more per month for town utilities as of Jan. 1, 2012.
Town of Bowden council approved a utility rate increase for 2012 at its regular meeting on Dec. 12.
The water consumption rate will increase from $2 to $2.35 per cubic metre. This increase will also have an impact on the sanitary sewer fee, as it is calculated at 75 per cent of the water consumption rate.
The bulk water rate will also be going up from $2 to $2.35 per cubic metre for in-town customers. The rate for out-of-town customers remains the same, at $4 per cubic metre.
The solid waste rate for residential services, commercial services and institutional services will go from $14.85 to $16 per month. Moreover, the tag charge for each additional bag of solid waste will be $1.50, up from $1.
The recycling fee will be increased from $3.15 to $4 per month.
Mayor Robb Stuart says that the rate increases were motivated by council’s desire to move towards cost recovery for each individual utility.
“Water, by its nature, is more susceptible to maintenance, due to water breaks, water meters or sewers,” he said. “We increase the water rate a little bit and the garbage rate got up a little bit.”
Stuart says council would rather increase a few rates every year or so rather than hit Bowden residents with a huge increase.
“The regional water line is coming and we are trying to prepare for that too,” he explained.
Starting in January, the Mountain View Regional Water Services Commission will raise its water rate from $1.20 per cubic metre to $1.33. The commission has to start paying back the amortized amount of $33 million for the regional water line project.
