Rate hikes of 25 per cent could be coming to users of the Sunshine Coast Regional District’s (SCRD) wastewater facilities following a vote by directors to include the increase in the 2019 budget deliberations.
The SCRD operates 15 wastewater treatment facilities, serving 541 customers in the Coast’s rural areas.
Last November, a review of the facilities found several of them to be in non-compliance with regulatory requirements due to a lack of operational funding. Staff also discovered capital funding for the facilities are in “a shortfall position.”
To cover those costs, a 25 per cent user fee increase and two per cent increase to frontage fees has been recommended for the 2019 budget. User fees for each facility vary. Sakinaw Ridge facility users could see the largest user fee increase, at $143. The eight users currently pay $575 each.
The increase will add just under $52,000 in revenue for the service, but more will be needed to cover the funding shortfall, according to staff, with some areas requiring an increase of at least 50 per cent.
Staff are still developing an asset management plan, which is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
At the Jan. 31 committee meeting where the rates were introduced, CFO Tina Perreault acknowledged that “a significant amount of pubic engagement will need to be done for these small local service areas.”
Directors discussed options for communication strategies.
“It’s good to have this out in the open,” said Leonard Lee, director for Area A, which has the most small wastewater treatment systems.
He asked whether letters informing constituents of the raise could be mailed prior to the finalization of the budget, and whether there would be an opportunity for directors “to take a total budget package to our areas specifically for our areas and explain it to our user groups.”
“I think those are some of the feedback we’d want on the local areas on how we engage these groups,” said CFO Tina Perreault.
