INNISFAIL – As town council was set to review its own work for the 2022 municipal budget, administration informed members that Innisfailians will see a water rate increase in the coming year.
Innisfail council members met on Dec. 6 at its Agenda & Priorities meeting to review its proposed 2022 municipal budget following three days of deliberations from Nov. 24 to 26. Council and administration finished the deliberations with a proposed two per cent property tax increase for 2022.
If passed by council at its regular meeting on Dec. 13, it will be the highest property tax increase seen in Innisfail since at least 2015.
Erica Vickers, the town’s director of corporate affairs, asked council on Dec. 6 whether there were any questions on the budget process and if any changes were required.
“They had asked for another chance to debate the budget after it kind of sat in their minds for a week, and to let them think about it for a bit, but they really didn’t ask any further questions. I think they were all satisfied with the budget that we had discussed,” said Vickers last week in an interview with The Albertan.
While no member of council asked for a change in the proposed budget Vickers told council members she had two updates.
During the budget deliberations, all members of council refused a monthly $60 expense stipend towards cellphone costs, which will save taxpayers about $5,000.
Vickers told council she removed that $5,000 out as a town expense and into the town’s surplus account, which will now be increased from $73,802 to $78,842.
She then advised council of the update to water rates for Innisfailians. The water rate now charged to Innisfailians in 2021 is $2.60 per cubic metre.
However, Vickers said the town recently received notice from the Mountain View Regional Water Commission (MVRWC) that there will be an 11-cent increase for 2022, pushing the water rate to $2.71 per cubic metre.
“We had an estimate for the water rates a few weeks ago, and so on November 29 the water commission had their first reading of their budget and we found out the increase was going to be 11 cents,” said Vickers, adding the increase is for any property owner in town that has a water meter, including residential and commercial. “That is what we pay to (MVRWC), so then we in turn also increase to 11 cents to the residents.”
The 11-cent water rate increase for 2022 is not far off with the one handed down for 2021. The increase went from $2.50 in 2020 to $2.60 for 2021.
With those updates to council now in the books Vickers was not anticipating any further changes to the proposed budget before it came before council on Dec. 13 for final approval.
“I am anticipating that not much will likely change but you never know what could happen in a few days,” said Vickers.
