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12 | 14 | 2013 VOLUME 18 | ISSUE 50
THAT CHRISTMAS TREE TIME OF YEAR AGAIN VENTURE PAGE 30
COMMENT PAGE 16
YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE CULTURE OF ENTITLEMENT
www.OBSERVERXTRA.com
Woolwich water rates unchanged, wastewater to rise 7.9% Council approves budget, rate changes for 2014; increase on sewer side to add $29-$38 annually STEVE KANNON
St. Nick made his way through Elmira on Dec. 7, closing the town’s largest Christmas parade yet. After Friday evening’s visit to Wellesley’s Christmas Tyme Parade, he has one more stop in St. Clements on Dec. 21. [WILL SLOAN / THE OBSERVER]
After a string of wellabove-inflation rate increases for water, Woolwich residents will see no hikes in 2014. The price they’ll pay for wastewater going out, however, will take another large jump, up 7.9 per cent. The sewage charges would bring the rate to $2.18 per cubic metre from $2.02, adding $29-$38 per year to a customer’s bill, based on an average of 180 to 240 cubic metres. The fee for water will remain at $1.61 per cubic metre, following a 5.9 per cent hike in 2013.
Woolwich councillors meeting Tuesday night quickly approved the new rates, part of the 2014 water and wastewater budget. Huge increases have been the norm in recent years, as the region implements the user-pay, fullcost-recovery model for its water and wastewater systems, as mandated by the province. In presenting the budget, treasurer Richard Petherick noted the township expects to finish 2013 with a surplus on the water side, but a deficit on the wastewater front due to the wet weathRATES | 7