Vaughan, Ont. Cancels 2020 Water and Wastewater Rate Increases

WaterCanada.net
April 9, 2020
Simran Chattha

Vaughan City Council has voted to cancel its planned 2020 water and wastewater rate increases.

“The City of Vaughan is committed to protecting the health and well-being of citizens, consumers, and local business owners,” said Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua. “We continue to implement a series of measures to provide much needed relief to our city’s hardworking taxpayers, ratepayers, and the older adult community.”

The Council-approved recommendations also call on York Region to cancel or defer the 2020 planned regional nine per cent combined wholesale water and wastewater increases. Regional costs for water and wastewater treatment account for approximately 75 per cent of the City’s annual costs for water and wastewater services.

In addition to this, Vaughan City Council also voted to defer its stormwater charge for 60 days.

As documented in a public staff report, deferral of the stormwater charge will have minimal impact to the City’s fiscal position and stormwater reserves. The 2020 stormwater charge remains at the same rate as the 2019 charge, amounting to a zero per cent increase. Deferring the 2020 stormwater charge billing for 60 days will have minimal impact on the stormwater program.

“By deferring stormwater payments and cancelling water and wastewater increases, we are helping families better manage their household budgets during these uncertain times,” added Bevilacqua. “Despite the challenges cities around the world are facing because of the evolving COVID-19 global pandemic, I want to remind everyone that we are in this together and we will emerge stronger.”

The decisions to cancel the water and wastewater rate increases and to defer the stormwater charge came during the City’s first ever electronic-participation Committee of the Whole and Council meetings held on March 30, 2020.