The Village of Boyle council made adjustments to the village’s utility rates last Wednesday.
Garbage disposal increased from $19.69 to $25 a year.
The waste charge increase still leaves the Village with nearly a $45,000 per year shortfall, which is subsidized by property taxes, said Mayor Don Radmanovich.
Water is now on a flat rate of $15 per month plus $4.25 for each cubic metre of water used. The old rate was $14.85 for the first five cubic metres, and $4 for each cubic metre thereafter.
“This is a price increase of approx five per cent a cube,” Radmanovich.
The waste and water charges are being billed by the regional systems, so the village does not set the prices, said Radmanovich.
“There is no profit to the village on the water being sold,” he said.
“Council believes that these costs have to be paid, and it is a much fairer method of collecting by usage instead of only being a burden to the taxpayers,” said Radmanovich.
The Athabasca County is entering an agreement with the Village of Boyle to enforce bylaws.
“They are providing the service of their bylaw enforcement officer,” said Elly Zeggelaar, acting CAO for the Village of Boyle.
“Some people don’t think we have access to that service; we always had access before under different methods,” said Zeggelaar.
There are bylaws for dogs, noise, parking, unsightly yards and many other issues, said Zeggelaar.
The Village of Boyle is setting up a system to allow tax payments online, council decided.
Last Wednesday Boyle council agreed to set up Internet banking, making taxes much faster and easier to pay.
Online payments will be available for the 2011 taxes, beginning in May.
