Richmond residents will be digging deeper into their tax pockets next year, with rates for water, sewer, garbage and recycling set to rise.
The owner of a nonmetered single family home will likely pay up to $79 extra in utilities after new rates were approved by a city council committee this week.
Should they be set in stone at the next full council meeting, the new rates translate for the abovenamed category into a 6.6 per cent increase to $1,271.86.
Increases for other nonmetered categories include:
- Townhouse (which is on city garbage pickup): $1,071.25 ($66.66);
- Townhouse: $959.91 ($62.03);
- Apartment: $732.13 ($48.25).
Homes that are on meters and with average water/sewer use can expect the following increases:
- Single family home: $896.77 ($63.13);
- Townhouse (on city garbage): $771.22 ($55.14);
- Townhouse: $659.88 ($50.51);
- Apartment: $495.51 ($38.22).
As has been the case in recent years, regional costs - out of the control of the city - are to blame for the majority of the rate increases.
Indeed, Metro Vancouver increases for water, sewer treatment and tipping account for around 60 per cent the utility cost rise.
acampbell@richmond-news.com
