The water rate in the Town of Antigonish will be going up.
Staff have made an application to the NSUARB to change a planned increase of 1% in 2021-2022 to between 2.8% and 5%.
They’re also asking to change the proposed 2022-2023 rate from 4.5% to somewhere in the range of 3.9% to 4.8%.
Mayor Laurie Boucher tells The Hawk they couldn’t maintain the same level of service at the old proposed rates.
“We’re very proud of the service that we have with our water utility, and through the water rate study it was deemed that the increase was necessary in order to keep up the same level of service,” she says. “We are required to provide the service, and also we are required to make sure that we’re breaking even on it.”
Boucher says they need the increased funds for normal operations, infrastructure, and maintenance.
The NSUARB is set hold the rate change hearing and make its decision Apr. 7.
2020-2021 rates are set to remain the same.
