THUNDER BAY -- Users fees in 20 city departments will see an increase this year if city council ratifies its budget next month.
Councillors debated a three per cent increase to water rates and a sewer surcharge bump from 75 to 90 per cent at length during budget deliberations. They also decided to increase ice rentals, which were proposed to go up from $120 to $123, to $125.
Some, like unspecified fees in development services to speed up applications, are new while others, like many fees at pools and the Canada Games Complex, are listed as a 1.5 per cent average.
The Parking Authority is increasing fines by $5 as of July, with meter rates hearing from $1 an hour to $1.25.
Here is the complete list:
- City solicitor and corporate: removal of notary fees and addition of new subdivision registration fees
- Transit: increase fare by $0.05 and adjust fare structure on 20-ride fare. New Lift Plus $3.00 cancellation and $6.00 no-show fee.
- Community Aquatics and Canada Games Complex: Various user fee changes resulting in 1.5 per cent average increase.
- Child and Youth Services: various user fee changes resulting in 1.5 per cent average increase.
- Arena and Stadia: Increase in hourly rental fees for Minor-Prime Time to $125 per hour.
- Child Care: Increase to fees currently below the TBDSSAB maximum rates by 2-5 per cent.
- Homes for the Aged: Meals on Wheels cost per meal will increase $0.25
- Corporate Service: New $30 fee for unpaid accounts and increase NSF fee from $30 to $40.
- Development Services - Various new user fees to encourage applications to move forward in a timely manner.
- Parks: Campground fees, field booking rates, excluding youth activities, building and facility rental rates increased by 2 per cent.
- Parking Authority: Increase fines by $5 effective July 2015. On-street meter rates increased from $1 per hour to $1.25. Parkade daily rates increase from $0.75 per hour to $1 with daily maximum at $5. Monthly parkade rates increase from $50 to $51 and parking lot monthly rates from $45 to $46 starting May 2015.
- Solid Waste: General tipping fee increase of 7 per cent for transactions over the $10 base fee. Weight subject to additional fees will decrease from 165 kilograms to 160.
- Waterworks: Fixed and volumetric charges will increase 3 per cent starting April 2015. Wastewater surcharge increase from 75 per cent to 90 of water consumption and fixed costs. Other water and wastewater charges related to consumption and services increase 3 per cent starting April 2015.
- Waterfront: Boater Services fees increase two per cent.
