I've Been Away

At  a conference in Halifax. I will tell about that later. Last night's Council meeting comes first.

I had several motions on the agenda pertaining to water rates. They are part of my ongoing battle, since last year's substantial rate increase, against the  methodology of the calculation.

I think consumers  are being shafted.

Last year  "water loss" was increased from 8% to 12%. It was jacked up again this year  by 1.5%. An increase of 13.5% in as many months.

I don't believe we are losing water at that rate. Much of our infrastructure is new and various ongoing techniques have been employed to prevent water loss. It should be decreasing. Not increasing.

Since meters were installed in the eighties, water bills have been an ongoing  source of aggravation. 

The quarterly bill once  reflected a charge for "miscellaneous". What  company with a monopoly on service, gets away with  making a charge for  "miscellaneous"

Then, there was the issue of using water consumption as a measure for sewer rate charges.Not all water used receives sewage treatment.

There have been changes. Sewer rates are adjusted  lower than water rates.

"Miscellaneous " is now identified as a surcharge for storm water ponds. Nothing whatsoever to do with water consumed.

Water bills are not sent to every household . It  means  some  property owners  do not contribute to  storm water ponds for  improvement of water quality of Lake Simcoe..

Therein lies  a lack of equity between taxpayers.

Since last year, I've been tracking down unmetered water used for tax supported services which are not reflected in department budgets and subsequently in the tax bill.

"Water loss" has been  thrown into the mix to calculate  revenue needed to pay the Region's bill  wholesale water rates and charged toconsumers. 

The fire department re- fills tankers from hydrants after a fire. Hydrants are not metered. How could they be?

The parks department uses water for irrigation from unmetered sources.

We have two water parks operating   two months every summer.  Nobody knows how much water they use. They are not metered.

We create two outdoor ice surfaces with hundreds of man hours spraying hundreds of  thousands of gallons of water for days on end from an unmetered source.

Last night's debate was interesting. First up, while I was speaking, Councillor Gaertner, on a point of order, stated I should not be allowed to  mislead people with false statements about unmetered water use.

Councillor Thompson said he had a conversation with the Director of Environment and Infrastructureand.He understands a plan is afoot to have all water sources metered

Council hasn't heard about that plan. It will be interesting to see how hydrants can be metered.

 Councillor Gallo referred to water used to fight fires in  King and Whitchurch Stouffville.We have a fire service contract with both municipalities.  Would  we be have to pay  for their water?

Fire calls in the  two municipalities are generally in rural areas without water service. There are no hydrants where there is no water service.

Councillor Pirrie was generally in favour of transferring the cost of water used for tax supported services from  water rates to the tax bill.  He thought it  was fair and would amount to  pennies  difference in  the average tax bill

It would certainly be reduced by being shared across the board.

The Chief Financial Officer refuted the idea. He cited a figure. Almost a million. He said the difference would represent 3.4% points in the tax rate. Almost  He used the word semantics to dismiss the argument.

The tax increase this year was  around  2.7%.

Transferring the  cost of water used for tax supported services,  to department budgets, would mean a total  increase in taxes of  6.1%.

Water rates to consumers would be reduced accordingly.

 I  used the opportunity to point out, once again,  the town is using water rates to subsidise  the tax rate

That is not right. It is not honest. It is not fair. 

I have to obtain  the tape from the town to hear my exact words.

The Chief Financial Officer , apologising to the Mayor for the interruption, declared he could no longer think because his integrity had been impugned.

The Mayor requested  I apologise to the Chief Financial Officer.

I refused.

I left the council table to prevent a stalemate and allow Council proceedings to continue.

If I hear anything  on the tape to indicate I impugned the Chief Financial Officer's integrity, I will apologise.

The Water and Sewer Rate  Bylaw is adopted  by Council. Council has ownership of the Bylaw.Council is responsible for rates charged.  

I will not forfeit my authority to challenge an indefensible rational for water rates. 

Whether or not I win or lose ,I will not docilely accept an argument which does not, pardon the pun, hold water.