Homeowners in Fort Frances will pay 2.25% more on their water and sewer bills in the new year.
The industrial and commercial sector rates will increase by 3.77%.
The rate hikes will take effect in the new year and help the town generate an extra $178,197.78 for use in future water and sewer improvement projects.
Councillor Mike Behan worries about the added hit to local businesses.
“I understand what we’re trying to do incrementally, but this would be the second, maybe in the third year that we’ve hit industrial and commercial higher than residential,” says Behan.
Mayor Andrew Hallikas shied away from other scenarios where larger increases to the residential sector were proposed.
“It’s not a great deal of money monthly. It’s still an increase in the money that comes out of taxpayers’ pockets,” says Hallikas.
“And I’m really worried about our upcoming operational budget, so I want to keep expenditure out of the taxpayers’ pockets as small as possible.”
The increase for residential users works out to an extra $25.20 a year or $2.10 a month.
The industrial and commercial sector that uses water metres will see the rate set at $3.89 per cubic meter while it is $4.43 per cu. meter for institutional customers.
