By Greg Higgins

Utilities could go up in an effort to pay city debt

Jan 12, 2017 | 11:00 AM

City councillors approved most of the proposed budget, except for a potential raise in water and sewage consumption rates.

The city suggested rates be increased by three per cent at Monday night’s council meeting in North Battleford. council debated the idea of increasing the utility by 4.5 per cent and ultimately decided they needed more time and research before voting on the matter.

The city’s mayor, Ryan Bater, said the increase was suggested to catch up with debt.

“We have been in a position for the last several years now, where we are paying down debt consistently, but then we’re also taking on new debt for various capital projects within the city,” Bater said. “The needs in the city are tremendous and a lot of that is capital demands … that was the feeling amongst council, to start addressing that and start increasing rates to pay off debt faster.”

As of the end of 2016, North Battleford has $42,950,000 million in debt and the city’s limit is $45 million.

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Bater wasn’t willing to put an exact amount on just how much the increase per household would cost taxpayers because it all will depend on the individual property’s usage.

“I think we’ve done things in a way that’s reasonable for tax payers here,” Bater said. “It will be something that will allow our city for not just growth, but also to ensure consistent provisions for the services for everyone that lives here.”

This was the only aspect of the budget which was not approved at the meeting. City staff told council the whole budget needs to be approved before February so bylaws can be changed to suit it.

A decision will be made at the next council meeting on Jan. 23.

Greg Higgins is a battlefordsNOW’s reporter. He can be reached at ghiggins@jpbg.ca or tweet him @realgreghiggins.

by Greg Higgins

Utilities could go up in an effort to pay city debt

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