Norfolk County Council, sitting as the budget committee, has recommended approval of the 2021 water and wastewater budget.
The budget includes a rate increase in the amount of 6.1% which means an average residential bill will increase by approximately $6.08 per month.
This increase is the result of a recommended rate relief strategy, part of a financial sustainability plan which will address operating costs and significant capital improvements required over the next ten years while taking into consideration ratepayers affordability.
In doing so, this strategy reduced the net rate requirement from just under 22%.
“This is the first step in getting us off what I like to call the ‘water rate rollercoaster,’” says Councillor Ian Rabbitts, chair of the budget committee. “Dramatic increases in water rates make it far too difficult for people to plan their household finances, and creates an uncertain business climate. While increases will be a reality in the coming years – necessary to fund the infrastructure upgrades our facilities so desperately need – our goal is to keep those increases both affordable and predictable.”
County staff launched an engagement campaign ahead of rate budget deliberations, which included a dedicated web page, an overview of Norfolk’s water and wastewater infrastructure, a summary of the County’s rate study and an online survey which garnered more than 300 responses.
Survey results indicated that respondents would like to see the County balance the need for proactive maintenance of infrastructure with reasonable rate increases.
Norfolk County maintains more than 300 kilometres of watermains and 241 kilometres of sanitary sewers to serve nearly 16,000 customers.
Critical infrastructure upgrades will continue in 2021 at facilities in Port Dover, Waterford, Simcoe and Port Rowan, as well as to various sanitary sewer pumping stations.
Finance staff will confirm the rates passed today at the Dec. 8 meeting of council-in-committee. Council will approve the final rate budget Dec. 15.
