The final piece of the 2017 budget puzzle at North Battleford city hall was filled in Monday as council approved a 4.5 per cent increase to utility rates.
Council voted to approve raising water and sewer base and consumption rates by that amount at their meeting.
It was the last item left to be decided on the 2017 budget, following a budget process going back to deliberations in December.
The UPAR rates were approved in December, and the rest of the operations and capital budget was adopted Jan. 9, with only utilities left to be decided.
After their Jan. 9 meeting, a final decision was still needed on whether to stick with City administration’s original proposal for a three per cent increase, or to accept the proposal from Councillor Greg Lightfoot for a higher 4.5 per cent increase. The Lightfoot proposal would raise an additional $100,000 in revenue and amount to an additional $10 on utility bills.
Most councillors had indicated support for the higher increase at the Jan. 9 meeting, but the decision was put off until Monday night, at the urging of both Councillor Len Taylor and Councillor Don Buglas.
Both had sought more time to consider the issue, although Taylor had indicated he was leaning in favour of the 4.5 per cent proposal.
On Monday, after taking time to consider it further, Taylor finally said he could not support it.
Instead, he accepted administration’s original three per cent proposal.
“I accept the fact that we’ve got a good management team and a good crew over there who can work with three per cent,” said Taylor.
Buglas concurred, saying he would not support the 4.5 per cent increase, either.
Like Taylor, Buglas was concerned about the other tax and fee increases residents faced throughout the 2017 budget.
“Three per cent is as much as our community can probably handle in light of things going on,” said Buglas. Later, he said the 4.5 per cent proposal should have been presented right at the onset, not late in the process.
The rest of council remained in favour. Counillor Greg Lightfoot repeated his strong support for 4.5 per cent, which he has justified on the basis that it would avoid the use of debt to pay for maintenance. Lightfoot pointed to strong support he has received for his position.
“I have had zero opposition to this,” said Lightfoot, adding “everybody said we need to pay down our debt.”
Lightfoot later noted other communities throughout Saskatchewan were facing much higher utility increases. In Saskatoon’s case, it was nine per cent.
The resolution to adopt the utility fund, along with the 4.5 per cent utility rate increase, passed in a recorded vote by a 5 to 2 margin, with only Taylor and Buglas voting against.
Also carried Monday were several bylaws setting the new rates, not only for water and sewer but also for waste management and recyclables.
The amendement to the waste management bylaw, setting the new schedule of fees, was carried in three readings. The amended bylaw establishing rates for waste removal and recyclable materials also carried in three readings. This set the new $10 per month waste removal rate as well as the $6.60 per month rate for recyclables.
The amendments to the waterworks system bylaw and the sewerage system bylaw, both reflecting the 4.5 per cent increase in utility base and consumption rates, also passed in three readings, but with both Taylor and Buglas voting against.
Despite their “no” vote, Taylor and Buglas did agree to the unanimous consent required to allow three readings to happen at the meeting.
Additional bylaws were also passed to change some of the wording in those two bylaws.
