The average homeowner in Innisfail will see an increase of about three per cent in their utility bills this year.
On Jan. 11 town council passed this year's Utility Bylaw, which set the rates for utilities for local residents, including water, wastewater, garbage and recycling.
Based on the average monthly consumption of 10 cubic metres, homeowners will see their total monthly bill in 2016 increase to about $97, compared to $92.50 last year.
While that is a $4.50 increase, the monthly bill will probably be less for homeowners, said Heather Whymark, the town's director of corporate services.
“It is not going to be drastic, no,” said Whymark. “We use 10 (cubes) as an average, which is on the high side. Most of our people sit around eight. They are not going to see a drastic increase this year.”
The monthly rate changes are due largely to the town now being serviced by the City of Red Deer's wastewater treatment plant. The annual fee for that service will be about $3.1 million, depending on consumption.
In an effort to cushion the financial impact on local ratepayers, town council approved $784,804 in stabilization funding along with the rate increase to help bring that cost down for 2016.
Water rates will increase from $2.10 per cubic metre to $2.15 per cubic metre, which is based on an increase from the Mountain View Regional Water Commission.
Wastewater rates will increase from $2.45 per cubic metre to $2.85 per cubic metre. That is based on a 20-cent increase from the South Red Deer Regional Wastewater Commission, and a 20-cent increase as set out in the town's 20/20 Plan, which was introduced three years ago to ease residents of the cost of the new regional system, which came online last year.
Garbage and recycling rates will remain unchanged from 2015.
