Utility charges for detached residences in Port Moody are expected to rise 6.2% next year to $1,194, according to a 2019-2023 utilities financial draft plan being presented to the city’s finance committee on Tuesday. Homes will also be taxed an additional $77 to cover storm drainage, up from $71 in 2018.
But those rates could yet change when Metro Vancouver releases its 2019 financial plan, which is expect to be presented to the regional board for approval by the end of the month. Metro Vancouver charges for regional water services comprise the main driver of the city’s proposed utility budget of $17.3 million for the coming year.
Utilities paid for by users include water, sewer and sanitation collection, which is comprised of garbage, recycling, green waste and glass collection.
The draft plan anticipates an increase of $196,000 in the cost of processing green waste because the city must change contractors as the previous contractor winds down its operations.
In August, Harvest Power, a Massachusetts-based company that processes organic green waste from several municipalities, including Port Moody, and turns it into compost, decided it would shut down rather than update its composting system to comply with stricter air quality regulations following complaints from neighbours about odours around its Richmond facility. In 2016, the facility processed 240,000 tonnes of organic waste from Metro Vancouver communities.
“It is expected that future costs related to processing green waste will increase substantially,” said the report, adding the city has already approved the purchase of a new, smaller solid waste collection vehicle to add to its fleet of four existing vehicles as part of its 2018 financial plan.
For next year, the portion of the utility charges going to pay for green waste will increase more than 20% to $238.
Final utility fees must be incorporated into the city’s 2019 fees bylaw, which is scheduled for its first three readings on Nov. 13 followed by adoption on Nov. 27.
-with a file from the Richmond News
