Vancouver eyes water, sewer, and garbage tax hikes
Posted December 10, 2011 1:11 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The price Vancouverites pay for water and sewer services may see a steep increase next year. City of Vancouver staffers are recommending a hike of nearly 10 per cent.
The adjustments are needed to help pay for the new $800 million Seymour-Capilano water filtration plant, and the replacement of city sewer lines.
Vancouver has committed to separate sewer and storm drain overflows by 2050, to stop raw sewage from draining into surrounding waterways during major rainstorms.
The higher rates are going before city council on Tuesday for consideration, along with a recommended 5.7 per cent increase for garbage collection.
The NPA‘s George Affleck says the hikes significantly outpace inflation, and are simply too high.
“I think we’ll probably see the current council majority saying that they’re not increasing taxes overall, more than the rate of inflation. But if you dig deeper you’ll find this is a way for them to increase taxes significantly,” says Affleck.
He points to Vancouver’s plan to install water meters in newly built homes across the city, as a key reason for the proposed increases.
“A lot of it’s going to be covering the cost of water meters which the NPA is clearly opposed to, and thinks is an unnecessary expense to monitor water that is actually free. The infrastructure is one thing, the water itself is another.”
On average, the changes will mean over $80 more in utility taxes for Vancouver homeowners in 2012. As part of its green initiative, the city is hoping to reduce its water consumption by one-third by 2020.
