City staff has recommended a non-tax supported operating budget that would see annual water bills in Guelph increase an average of $23.98 in 2020.
The proposed 2020 non-tax supported operating budget was released on Thursday.
Increases in user fees and rates for water, wastewater and stormwater would see a combined increase of 2.6 per cent over 2019, or $23.98. That average is based on a three-person household.
The city estimates that the average annual water bill for a three-person household in Guelph will be $946 next year.
The proposed 2020 non-tax supported operating budget comes in at $88.4 million.
The non-tax supported operating portion of the city’s 2020 overall budget focuses on the services residents pay for through rates, fees and charges such as stormwater management, water and wastewater, building permits, court services and, new for 2020, parking.
It looks at what the cost of running those programs is and the rates and fees for each of the services.
“Funds are collected through rates and fees to manage the operations of these services, not through property taxes, with the exception of parking, as it will continue to be a blended tax-supported/enterprise model,” says the city.
On the parking front, permit fees for the Arthur and Norwich streets parking lots will increase to $100 monthly based on last year’s Council-approved two-year phase in. All other parking fees are recommended to remain at 2019 levels.
Building permit fees will increase by 2.2 per cent.
The non-tax supported operating budget will go to city council on Oct. 30. Delegations will be heard on the same night.
Council deliberation and approval for the entire 2020 budget is set for Nov. 13.
