New P.A. utility rate moving closer to finalization
If you thought your utility rates were high enough, get ready to dig a little deeper.
City council still has not finalized the new utility rate, but the water utility rate is predicted to increase by an average of 2.3 per cent, while sanitation will definitely increase by $1.80.
The sanitation utility budget, and subsequent residential surcharge, received the most criticism. Three councillors – Lee Atkinson, Charlene Miller and Tim Scharkowski – voted against the new budget, but were overruled five to three.
Atkinson was also unhappy the budget did not seem to incorporate any change and instead maintained, in his opinion, an inefficient status quo. “I don’t think there’s enough initiatives, there is no real improvements to the operation, there’s no assessment of the operations or…reduction of cost.”