Taxes and water/sewer rates going up

By Ken Johnston
Editor

Just as the new Harmonized Sales Tax kicked in last week, Rainy River Town Council also passed tax increases and water and sewer increases.
No members of the public attended a public meeting last Monday to offer any input on the town’s budget. Afterwards a special council meeting was held to deal with tax ratios, tax rates and the budget.
“Council deferred the budget for some further review namely in the water and sewer departments,” said Town Clerk Veldron Vogan. However, they did pass the tax rates and tax ratios.
Residential tax payers will see an increase of 5.9%. At the same time council reduced some of the burden on commercial and industrial property owners. “Commercial and industrial levies will decrease by 5-8.8% depending on whether or not the property is vacant or occupied,” explained Vogan. Of course the effects on individual properties may vary depending upon changes to one’s assessment value.
Water and sewer rates will also see an increase this year. They will go up by 5% or $3.50 per month. “The water & sewer monthly billing has not increased since 2007 and all the associated costs are increasing - lab fees, wages, chemicals used in treatment, etc.,” said Vogan.
Council also increased equipment charges in the customer work schedule to reflect similar costs as charged by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario.
All other user fees “remained consistent,” said Vogan.
Tax bills will go out as scheduled in the next couple of days and be due July 31, 2010.