Tantramar water and sewer rates may go up 6.7%, lagoon upgrade planning could begin next year
Tantramar kicked off budget season last week when treasurer Michael Beal presented the proposed water and sewer utility budget at a special meeting on October 24.
The costs to run Sackville and Dorchester water and sewer services are separate from the town’s general operating budget. Both services are funded by utility bill payments, in Sackville according to metered water use, and in Dorchester with a flat sewer and water tax rate. For both the village and the town, Beal is proposing a 6.7% increase in those fees for 2024.
Increased fees are not as high as they could be, considering some $72,000 savings in administration costs, thanks to the amalgamation of Sackville and Dorchester utility operations.
That savings is balanced out with a cost increase for water services in Dorchester. In August, council approved a move to hire Veolia Water Technologies to run the Dorchester water treatment plant. The global water services company is also on contract to operate the Sackville and Moncton water treatment plants. Beal told council that change accounted for an increase in water services costs of about $110,000.
Without the amalgamation savings, hiring Veolia in Dorchester “would have resulted in a straight rate increase for those in Dorchester,” Beal told council. “But because of the combined the savings we had, in certain areas, we were able to do this with a minimal increase in rates.”… Continue