Staff in Saugeen Shores are no longer recommending an increase in the fee for garbage bag tags.
Treasurer Lori Sweiger has presented council with proposed 2010 charges and fees for a range of goods and services provided by the municipality.
She says the proposed increases range from 0 to 6 per cent.
Sweiger says under the waste management section – bag tags are now recommended to remain at $1.50 each instead of going up to 2 dollars.
She says staff were initially recommending an increase for two reasons.
They wanted to bring the fee in line with that in surrounding municipalities and also increase waste management revenues as they strive for a 100 per cent self funded program.
However, staff now say an increase in tipping fees at the landfill would also help achieve that goal.
The rate of 80 dollars per tonne (tone) of sorted household rate is proposed to go up to 100 dollars, while the unsorted rate would go from 110 to 125 dollars per tonne.
Meanwhile, Saugeen Shores Deputy Mayor Doug Freiburger admits the proposed bag tag increase was like a “slap in the face” for doing a good job.
He says even without a bag tag increase, extending the life of the town’s landfill is going to pay dividends upon dividends for the taxpayers.
While residents won’t be paying more for bag tags under the proposed fee schedule for 2010 – they will be paying significantly more in cemetery fees.
Sweiger says Saugeen Shores has not increased rates at the municipality’s 3 cemeteries since 2001 and revenue only covers 40 per cent of operating costs.
When compared to several cemeteries throughout Southwestern Ontario it was discovered most charge double the rates seen in Saugeen Shores.
Therefore, it’s being proposed that plot sales for a single lot increase from 375 dollars to 750 and a grave opening will now cost 600 dollars instead of 350.
The Consolidated Fees and Charges by-law will be presented to council for final approval tonight.