Waterloo Mayor stands by water rate increase
Posted Dec 12, 2017 01:49:26 PM.
Last Updated Dec 12, 2017 01:52:33 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Waterloo Mayor, Dave Jaworsky, is defending his city council’s decision to increase water rates to as high as $866 per year for the average household.
That’s going to mean a 4.5% hike in the rates themselves.
Jaworsky tells the Mike Farwell show this is still a great value, as it covers all the fresh water, sewage water, and stormwater used by, or made by the residents of Waterloo.
Jaworsky says the reality is, all the pipes in the ground will need to be replaced in the coming decades, and “you have to be prepared for that and to save up for it.”
He says all mayors try to keep the tax burden on property owners as low as possible, but they also have be prudent and plan for the future.
Jaworski says the good news is the Waterloo rates are still the lowest in Waterloo Region.
And there is a long-term plan to ease off on the annual increases in water rates.
And the mayor reminds everyone in his city, they can get a 45% discount off their stormwater fees, by doing something as simple as using rain barrels at their home.
