Saanich residents will pay more for sewer, water and garbage pick-up next year, if council ratifies the relevant bylaws Monday.
Average homeowners will see their sewer rates rise $49 B次元官网网址� or 10.52 per cent B次元官网网址� in 2019 over 2018, rising from $466 to $514, according to a staff report.
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Much of the increase covers SaanichB次元官网网址檚 regional contributions. Almost 76 per cent of the rate rise ($37 dollars) helps offset regional costs, B次元官网网址渄ue primarilyB次元官网网址� to the increase in the debt portion of the regional wastewater treatment currently under construction. Increases in SaanichB次元官网网址檚 operating costs and infrastructure B次元官网网址� each costing homeowners $6 B次元官网网址� account for the remainder of the increase.
Last yearB次元官网网址檚 increase was 10.7 per cent, the first (but not last) of such following the construction start of the regional wastewater treatment plant. When completed, the $765-million federal, provincial and CRD-funded sewage treatment plant will provide seven municipalities in Greater Victoria with the regionB次元官网网址檚 first tertiary wastewater treatment system.
SaanichB次元官网网址檚 water rates, meanwhile, will rise 1.51 per cent B次元官网网址� or $7 annually for the B次元官网网址榓verageB次元官网网址� homeowner to help cover B次元官网网址渘on-discretionaryB次元官网网址� higher labour costs, higher utility costs and other fees.
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Saanich residents will also have to pay more for garbage pick-up. Under the system, Saanich residents pay a base fee for solid waste services with the proposed rate for 2019 reaching $127.50. They also pay cart fees that fund the collection and disposal of garbage and organic waste based on cart size and type of garbage.
Under the proposed fees, homeowners will pay at least $181.50 and up to $240.48 dollars. In 2018, they paid $174.60 to $231.60.
Last yearB次元官网网址檚 increases drew considerable criticism, with one Saanich resident calling increases a hidden form of taxation.
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Bylaws approving these various rates now await final approval following three readings earlier this week. They remain subject to change until May, when council adopts its final budget. Staff, however, note that rate adjustments half-way through the year are unlikely.
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