Bancroft’s water and sewer rates will be going up by five per cent this year.
Council approved the rate increase during its meeting today. CAO Hazel Lambe says, starting in April, the average four-person home will see its bill go up by about $12 every two months, to nearly $252.
The town had originally been working towards a 2.5 per cent increase this year. But, Mayor Paul Jenkins says the town recently found out that almost $74,000 in repairs will be needed at both treatment plants in order to meet Ministry of Environment and Climate Change requirements.
Jenkins says the town is unsure whether or not the five per cent increase will be enough to pay for all the repairs. However, he says he doesn’t believe there will be any more increases to water and sewer rates in 2018.
The town’s deficit from operating the systems sat at around $1.8-million at the beginning of 2017, when rates first went up by 53 per cent. Jenkins says the deficit has gone down since then, but the exact figure won’t be known until an audited report is returned to council. Jenkins also says the current rates are unacceptable.
Meanwhile, council also voted in favour of setting aside $20,000 every year to be given to Hastings County to support those who cannot pay their bills.
