Coquitlam homeowners will have to shell out an extra $50 next year for water, sewage and garbage pick-up.
On Monday, city council gave three readings to bylaws that will see water rates rise by $23, from $384 to $407; sewer levies increase by $11, from $347 to $358; and solid-waste charges jump by $16, from $326 to $342.
That means a single-family homeowner can expect to pay about $1,107 in utilities next year versus the current $1,057.
As well, apartment owners will see a $2 hike in their recycling fees, from $37 to $39, according to a staff report.
Still, the rate increases are slightly down from this year when the city billed an additional $25 for water, $15 more for sewage and $24 more for garbage collection by Smithrite Disposal Ltd., whose three-year contract expires on June 30.
By comparison, Port Coquitlam homeowners are expected to pay an extra $19 next year for water, from $368 to $387, and another $9 for sewage, from $280 to $289 (its garbage rates are not included in utility budget).
In Port Moody, homeowners can calculate another $9 for water in 2012, from $347 to $356; $1 more for sewer, to $334; $30 less for garbage pick-up, from $183 to $153; and an additional $51 for recycling collection, from $119 to $170 (Port Moody city council was set to pass its utility budget last night).
Metro Vancouver, which oversees water and sewage, has a capital program estimated to total $2.3 billion over the next 10 years, meaning water and sewer charges are not likely to go down anytime soon. In fact, water alone is estimated to rise 8% a year over the next five years.
Much of that money will be used on projects like the Seymour/Capilano filtration plant, a drinking water treatment project and a Port Mann Main Fraser River water crossing.
Also, changes to provincial and federal water regulations require a $250-million upgrade to the Coquitlam Water Filtration Plan.
Coquitlam Coun. Lou Sekora, a former Metro Vancouver board director who was the only councillor to vote against the utility rate increase at Monday's city council meeting, lamented the hikes for residents - a sentiment echoed by Mayor Richard Stewart, also a Metro director, who added he hopes to see the regional body bring "its costs in line" over the next three years.
Coun. Brent Asmundson also warned about rising Metro garbage tipping fees, due to rise to $210 a tonne in 2016.
Meanwhile, Coquitlam city council is expected to grant fourth and final readings to its utility bylaws tonight (Wednesday) at its last regular meeting of the year, allowing staff to start the billing process to get utility notices out by February for the March 31 payment deadline.
The 2012 capital and operating budgets are set to be adopted by city council on March 5, which will determine property taxes that are due in early July.
- with files from Gary McKenna
