Earlier this month, council approved a 6.49 per cent water, wastewater, and stormwater rate hike for 2023. The municipality is hiring eight new full-time employees to keep up with alleged “regulatory changes” and “capital impacts”, while maintaining service levels. Photo credit: City of Hamilton
At a time when just about everyone is struggling with sky-high inflation, ever-increasing grocery costs, stubborn gas prices, and rising interest rates, the City of Hamilton has decided to institute a 6.49 per cent rate hike on water, wastewater, and stormwater for 2023.
With the increase, the average Hamilton resident’s bill next year will be $877.30 for a household consuming 200 cubic metres of water, representing a $53.45 jump from 2022.
In a statement regarding the substantial rate hike, Mayor Andrea Horwath tried to justify the move by citing the reported complexity of the city’s existing system and need to mitigate “climate change”.
“Hamilton has one of the most complex water and wastewater systems in the province which comes with a unique set of challenges,” said Horwath. “This budget balances the need to invest in infrastructure upgrades, improving the City’s environmental stewardship and climate change mitigation efforts while continuing to provide essential drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services to our community with a focus on value.”
The City of Hamilton has the second oldest water system in Canada, and one of the oldest sewage systems in the country.
According to the municipality, the rate increase “targets infrastructure renewal, regulatory compliance and investment in the future of the water, wastewater and stormwater systems” in the city.
“We are appreciative of the support from Council for the 2023 Water, Wastewater and Stormwater Rate Budget,” said Carlyle Khan, general manager of public works. “The budget direction enables us to maintain and provide essential water, wastewater and stormwater services to the community and also address the infrastructure challenges Hamilton faces.”
The total approved operating budget for water, wastewater, and stormwater for 2023 is $108.5 million – a 10.3 per cent increase from 2022.
The 2023 capital budget of $255.3 million includes $107.3 million toward wastewater, $116.7 million toward water, and $31.3 million toward stormwater.
The municipality is hiring eight new full-time employees to keep up with alleged “regulatory changes” and “capital impacts”, while maintaining service levels.
Aging infrastructure such as the Woodward Water Treatment Plant, the Dundas and Woodward Wastewater Treatment Plants and the massive network of pipes, pumping stations, stormwater ponds and other critical components will all reportedly receive upgrades this year.
Per the municipality, both the sizable rate and operating budget year-over-year jumps also reflect “significant inflationary increases to the cost of chemicals, energy and equipment, and materials”.
The newly-elected council under Mayor Horwath unanimously accepted the staff-proposed 6.49 per cent rate hike at its Dec. 6 meeting.
The previous council, most recently, approved rate increases of 4.98 and 4.28 per cent in 2021 and 2020, respectively.
