Water and Sewer Rates Going Up

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 03:58 AM

Prince George, B.C. - You will be paying more for the flat rate for water as of July and another increase will come your way January 1st.

The changes will see a 5% increase to the residential and commercial flat rates and a 5% increase to the residential and commercial capacity rates effective July 1st 2008. Then another 5% increase to the residential and commercial flat rates and a 5% increase to the residential and commercial capacity rates effective Jan 1st 2009.

Withthecurrent rate at a little over $202.00 it means the bill be up to $212.00 in July then increased to $223.00 In January.

As for the sewer rates, they will increase by 2.25% effective July 1st 2008.

Utilities Manager Marco Fornari says the utilities are supposed to be revenue neutral but the 2008 financial plan for the water fund had to pick up some money from the prior year operating surplus of just over $1 million to cover increased expenditures. Those increases were largely due to debt payments resulting from such projects as the Hart/Nechako water supply improvement and the 15th Avenue to Ferry Avenue water main and the Cranbrook Hill reservoir. The Municipal Finance Authority debt payments have increased from $1.29 million in 2005 to $2.75 million in 2008.

The increases won't impact any of those who are on the voluntary water meter system. Councillor Glenn Scott says he thinks it's just more "hammering of the taxpayer, the garbage rate increased, we hit them with a road tax rate, i just would like a better explanation of why we have to have an increase."

Mayor Colin Kinsley says its simple it's a cost for service, " If you don't have city water you don't pay. If you don't have sewer you don't pay." The Mayor says at $202 dollars per year, the City's water rate is one of the lowest in the Province.

Councilor Don Zurowski says he is like others, he doesn't like to see rates go up but "We made a decision to improve the Hart Highway water infrastructure to the tune of $15 million dollars, the goal is to keep the rate increase to about the consumer price index and still have some in reserve for infrastructure. We could easily not make this kind of investment, but we might well be having a health safety discussion."

The Mayor says he doesn't like to increase taxes or rates but "Often the right thing to do is not the popular thing to do."

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Posted on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 03:58 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: acrider54 on May 13 2008 6:03 AM

I guess a person will have to get a second job just to pay all the rising taxes. Like gas prices they got us by the short ones. Just keep raising them and soon things will fall in the dumpster for everyone.

Posted by: northern taxpayer on May 13 2008 6:21 AM

looks like a job for the counterfeiter that way everybody will be able to keep up with inflation. I never could figure out why we have to pay the gestapo to put the counterfeiter in jail - they are the only ones increasing the money supply! I suppose the banksters who have a military protected monoply could do it but they would lose control over us woudn't they?

Posted by: Andyfreeze on May 13 2008 8:17 AM

With the rapidly rising costs of almost EVERYTHING,we do have to consider when the last time was that anyone had a raise to enable them to keep pace?
Seems we ARE losing ground faster than ever before, and it is likely the general costs of everyday living will keep going for a while yet.
Then,when we consider the economic situation,particlarly here in the north,something has got to give sooner than later.
When workers finally do go looking for more money,it is not going to be pretty,but then the employers and the government will plead poverty...again.
Funny how not that long ago goverments were sneaky about slipping in a lot of these increases but now,they just thumb their noses at the taxpayers!
This is what you get peons,...too bad,so sad!
I think most of us expect to pay our fair share for services provided but now,they don't even kiss us before they have their way with us.
B.C. will really feel the pinch by 2010 when the final tally comes in and the economy starts to crash,and crash it will.
And we actually ELECT these people!

Posted by: diplomat on May 13 2008 9:24 AM

"When workers finally do go looking for more money,it is not going to be pretty,but then the employers and the government will plead poverty...again."

Actually, when they finally get an increase it will be used as an excuse (now they can afford it!) to raise the user fees and taxes yet again!

Ask the Mayor about the potholes and the answer is: We have the lowest number of potholes of any northern city in the world!

Ask the Mayor about raising the water rate and the answer is: ...the City's water rate is one of the lowest in the Province.

In both cases the questioner gets the runaround! How? Well, the potholes need to be fixed, eliminated, eradicated! What comfort does this (dubious) statement give to the motorist when he is crunching through the potholes and perhaps he should quietly put up with them because others have even more of them?

And, what in tarnation is wrong with the City of Prince George having (if it is indeed true) one of the Province's lowest water rates?

Is it a constant irritation to those in power that perhaps an opportunity is being missed by not charging at least as much as the city that charges the most?

How about just getting the job done here first of all within the budget, on time and in a manner respectful of the hard earned money from the taxpayers?

This *leap-frogging* mentality (when it comes to raising moneys) has become a standard excuse and justification everywhere. When are we going to get some representation which doesn't subscribe to this so-called philosophy?

Councillor Glenn Scott, thank you for having the common sense and guts to at least question these constant increases which not everyone can afford without cutting back on some necessities.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on May 13 2008 9:41 AM

How true diplomat,how true!

Posted by: Harbinger on May 13 2008 4:58 PM

Excessive wage demands cause inflation. Believe it or not! Because that is what "they" (governments) say!

Posted by: Harbinger on May 14 2008 1:01 PM

This coming November shall we vote in again those councillors who commiserate with us lowly taxpayers about rising taxes and fees, while all the while they voted to increase them? Cunning sympathy I would call it. A shark bit off yer leg, eh? Let me rub some salt on that. I'm your friend!