Written by Peter McIntyre Wednesday, 10 March 2010 11:16 107.5 KISSFM:
The announced nine percent increase to Greater Vernon water rates is being challenged by some past and present politicians. City councillor Bob Spiers says the average water user will actually pay about 15 percent more with the base rate jumping from 30 dollars a quarter--- to 50. "So even if you don't use any water what so ever, by going from 30 to 50 on the base rate, that's a 40 percent increase right there." Spiers call it a "heck of an increase all in one year" which will be on top of other hikes facing residents such as taxes and utilities.
Former councillor Barry Beardsell says the rates will be a hardship for many. "Before you know it, nobody is going to be watering anything. It's going to be like living in a desert." Beardsell also says the hikes for the "average" water user will be closer to 15 percent, not nine.
Mayor Wayne Lippert agrees the fee hikes will vary--- but are necessary. "The nine percent is on the base (consumption) rate across the board (goes from 84 cents a cubic meter to 92 cents, $1.10 from July to September). And if you're using more water then, yes, you're increases will be higher. The idea of it is to have increases so you start to conserve water." He says the increased revenue is also needed for upgrades to the utility. Lippert doesn't think the hikes will make it too costly for people to live here.
-------------Poll at KISSFM:
 Are the comming hikes in Greater Vernon water rates T00 much ? | ||
|---|---|---|
| yes | ||
| 19- | 90.5% | |
| no | ||
| 1- | 4.8% | |
| perhaps | ||
| 1- | 4.8% | |
| Number of Voters | : 21 |
| First Vote | : Wednesday, 10 March 2010 07:02 |
| Last Vote | : Wednesday, 10 March 2010 18:59 |
4 comments:
Funny, Vernon was a semi-arid bio-geoclimatic zone before we arrived and started watering the beejeebus out of the hillsides to grow orchards.
Now if tree fruit goes the way of the dodo and water is more precious than gold, because of rampant unrestrained development, we will be semi-arid again.
That's one way to keep the okanagan for okanaganers, eh?
Lippert does not know what he is talking about.If you are already conserving water but have a garden,and are an "average"user,you will see your rates increase 15% or more. Lippert is not within the Greater Vernon water Utility system-so it does not effect him-in fact he should not represent us on the Board.
Just a math note. An increase from $30 to $50 per quarter on the base rate is not a 40% increase, it is a 66.67% increase.
Thanks Dan. You are absolutely right. It is a 66.6% increase. I had 2 mikes in my face and quickly made the $20 increase as a percentage of final total and said 40% in ERROR.
Either way it is a hell a lot more than 9% across the board increase.
Actual increase is from 29.15 to 50.20 which is a 72.2% increase.
see also http://vernonblog.blogspot.com/2010/03/record-low-snowpack.html
for more details of individual rate increases.
Sorry even beancounters make mistakes.
Post a Comment