Residents of Irricana can expect a reissued and reduced January/February water bill following a special meeting March 29, in which Town council rescinded a previous motion that raised the water rate from $3.022 per cubic metre to $4.677.
The rate increase – passed during the Dec. 14, 2015 regular council meeting – was meant to reach a “true cost” for water, including operations, maintenance and repairs.
Councillor Frank Friesen said the price jump all at once was a huge hit for residents. A theoretical bill using 43.92 cubic metres of water increased by $72.74 due to the rate change, according to information presented at the March 21 meeting.
“It just made sense to revisit this whole thing and make it work for the benefit of the citizens,” Friesen said.
Interim Chief Administrative Officer Dawn Mosondz said water rates, expenses and revenues are reviewed annually and are usually increased in accordance to increases issued by Aqua 7, the Town’s water provider.
Council will review the rates bylaw at the April 4 regular meeting, Mosondz said, and discuss a more modest five per cent increase that would put the water rate per cubic metre at $3.17.
“We do need to have increases because things cost more every year,” Mosondz said.
Though having the municipality reach a “true cost” for water is ideal, she said council has agreed that gradually working towards bridging the gap between actual cost and revenue is the better route to take.
“We all want to make sure we are covering the costs, but sometimes we have to do it gradually versus jumping right in,” she said. “We’re looking at modest increases so that it’s not hurting the pocket books of residents.”
If all three readings of the rate bylaw are passed during the April 4 meeting, Mosondz said the five per cent increase would come into effect for the March/April bill.
