New water, sewer rates come into effect March 1

Niagara Falls city council approved its 2018 water and wastewater budget Tuesday evening.

Readjustment in the rates will depend on individual users.

When calculating fixed charges and volumetric rates, a resident who uses 100 cubic meters per year will pay $694.31, which is a 41-cent reduction from 2017.

A resident who uses 182 cubic meters per year will pay $876.02, which is a $1.88 increase from 2017.

A resident who uses 300 meters per year will pay $1,137.51, which is a $5.19 increase from 2017.

Finance director Todd Harrison said based on recent public engagement and surveys as part of the city’s 2018 budget process, “water and sewer services are really important to the public.”

“It’s a fundamental service we provide to the residents.”

He said the utility budget is a two-tiered service delivery between Niagara Region and the City of Niagara Falls.

On the fixed charges, the combined water and sewer rate per month for a residential account will be $39.39 this year, which is down by 27 cents from 2017.

Harrison said the costs have been slightly reduced on the water side, as the number of meters in the city have increased.

He said Niagara Falls has more than 900 new accounts from 2016 to 2017.

On the volumetric charges, the combined water and sewer rate per cubic meter will be $2.21, which is up by three cents from 2017.

Harrison said the impact on commercial accounts vary between increases of 1.06 per cent to 1.25 per cent, depending on their consumption patterns.

He said Niagara Falls is below the average cost per 100 and 300 cubic meters for water volumes when compared to other regional municipalities — $694 versus $810 per 100 cubic meters (in the middle of Niagara communities) and $1,137 versus $1,1407 per 300 cubic meters (near the bottom of Niagara communities).\

Harrison said single seniors make up part of the 100 cubic meter demographic, who may qualify for the city’s seniors water rebate, which can lead to further reductions on charges.

Coun. Mike Strange said it’s “nice to see” Niagara Falls in the “mid-to low” range when compared to other municipalities.

He said some communities are paying “astronomical” rates.

Harrison said staff is also recommending council approve a $500,000 drainage program to help deal with concerns, which is encompassed in the rate increases.

He said the new rates will take effect March 1.

Council also approved its 2018 parking budget, which like last year, came in at $1.4 million for expenses and revenues.

Harrison said the budget is a continuation of a 2014 initiative to have a balanced parking budget.

He said the revised annual spending at 1.1 per cent is below the Consumer Price Index.

Harrison said the city altered enforcement scheduling to reflect seasonal conditions and reduced expenditures, while a rate strategy was implemented to increase paid parking in underutilized lots and on street parking stalls.

Harrison said the municipality rolled out a new Honk Mobile app/ online parking program for all city operated paid parking spaces, and will collect outstanding penalty notices for U.S. plates.

Council deferred presentations seeking additional support from the Winter Festival of Lights and Niagara Falls Tourism to the Feb. 27 meeting, as well as an update report on the 2018 operating budget to the March 27 meeting because four of nine councillors were sick and could not attend Tuesday’s session.