Toronto garbage and water rates set to rise
City staff are recommending hikes in the cost of services, in line with recent years.

TheStar.com
Nov. 5, 2015
David Rider

Toronto city staff want council to hike homeowners’ water bills by 8 per cent next year and the garbage collection levy by 3 per cent, according to documents released Thursday.

The reports and public notices were released ahead of Friday’s launch of the so-called “rate-supported” budget — water, garbage and the Toronto parking authority.

Both hikes are in line with recent years, but the documents hint at other changes that could cost homeowners.

Council hiked water rates by 9 per cent a year for nine years ending in 2014, to generate revenue for repairs and stormwater runoff upgrades. The new documents suggest staff want to stick with the plan to hike the rates by 8 per cent each year between 2015 and 2017.

This year, the water bill for the average homeowner, using 280 cubic metres, was $882.
Staff are proposing the threshold for lower industrial rates be dropped from 6,000 to 5,000 cubic metres.

The documents say staff will recommend that council start a new separate stormwater levy, and take those costs out of the general water bill. There is no explanation of how that will affect homeowners, but the change, starting in 2018, would lower bills for manufacturers.

Single-family garbage collection fees would rise to $244.77 for small bins; $297.14 for medium; $403.55 for large; and $468.08 for extra-large.

However, last year, a reduction in the rebate paid to single-family homeowners translated into a hefty hike.

This year’s documents say only that “changes” to the rebate will be considered later, with the operating budget.