Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5KISSFM Friday, 05 April 2013 06:00
Setting water rates could be a little more orderly next year for local politicians. The Greater Vernon Advisory Committee has passed a motion to get staff to provide them with the financial impact on user groups when rate changes are being proposed. Director Bob Spiers says they didn't get that this year, and a supposed three percent increase was actually much higher for many users. Although the base fee went up by that amount, when combined with user fee increases, some customers are being hit with hikes of 8 to 20 percent. "Basically we didn't have enough information on the consequences, and most people left the meeting with the idea that residential was going up three percent," Spiers told Kiss FM. Spiers also questions the hasty process to set the rates each spring. "They have to get it passed by the second quarter. April 1st is sort of the deadline. Why it can't be done a heck of a lot earlier is beyond me." Coldstream director Gyula Kiss was the lone opponent to the motion which was initiated by Area B director Bob Fleming and seconded by Spiers. Kiss would like to explore using taxation or borrowing to fund capital water projects, instead of higher fees.
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Don Quixote Note: A Calculator where you can interactively enter your quarterly consumption totals in m3 and see your $ increase can be found at: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AqjuHhD4a7O5dDFoRWFQXzlOd2tlSHJjb0dDOUEzWVE&usp=sharing
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