CENTRE WELLINGTON – Water and wastewater rates will increase in 2021, but at a slower rate than over the past five years.
Centre Wellington council heard a presentation by Jim Bruzzese of BMA Managing Consultants Inc. on Nov. 23, and his recommendations from the water and wastewater rate study.
The rate study is a requirement of the province in issuing the township its license to provide water to the municipality.
The last water rate study was completed in 2015 and it set the rates for the past five years.
The report recommends a 0.9% increase to water rates in 2021 compared to 2.5% last year; and a 2.8% increase to wastewater rates in 2021 compared to 4% last year.
The township is now taking a 10-year look at water and wastewater rates, to ensure the departments are financially sound, to smooth rate increases rather than have sudden jumps, and to ensure financial flexibility.
Bruzzese said the township should be putting $2.2 million into the water reserve and $3.6 million into the wastewater reserve, “and currently you’re not contributing to the full extent.”
But most of the capital needs in water and wastewater are in the future, so there’s time to contribute to those funds, he said.
He also recommended consolidating the two reserve funds to improve flexibility.
The report recommends adding about a dozen new staff over the next 10 years “to meet growth-related pressures,” but that didn’t sit well with councillors Stephen Kitras and Bob Foster.
“It looks like wages will take a large portion while the surplus is going down,” Kitras said.
“The system is growing. We need more staff,” countered Dan Wilson, managing director of corporate services.
Foster said the 10-year plan seems to double the workforce in water and wastewater, but the increase in flow will only be 50% over the same period.
“It looks to me like most of this increase is hiring and I can’t support that,” said Foster.
“You’ve given me a bafflegab answer.”
CAO Andy Goldie said changing regulations plus a growing system will require more staff.
“A number of these positions are needed to meet regulations,” he said.
“We’re pushing our ability to respond to emergencies.”
Council approved the water and wastewater rate study and financial plan in a 5-2 vote.
Foster and Kitras were opposed and councillors Neil Dunsmore, Ian MacRae, Kirk McElwain, Steven VanLeeuwen and Mayor Kelly Linton in favour.
