Last summer, former mayor Dave Bronconnier warned that Calgarians would see double-digit increases to their water and sewer bills unless a new deal with developers was reached.
As it turns out, a new deal will only stem the bleeding. Paying down the $1.3 billion water and sewer debt will still require substantial hikes to Calgarians’ bills, council was told this week.
City administration is expected to bring a final, stark figure to council in June.
Ald. Gord Lowe says voters are “not going to be happy” when the final figure rolls in. “That last spurt of growth… there’s lots of residual effects from it that we’re going to have to deal with in the next few years,” he says.
Ald. Druh Farrell says the bulk of the debt is from a deal with land developers that saw the city pay for water and sewer infrastructure upgrades during a decade of unfettered growth on the city’s fringes.
Negotiations between the city and developers are currently underway, but there’s significant pressure from the development industry, says Farrell, “to continue with the developer subsidy.”
Comments: 2
Ron wrote:
The answer is remarkably simple: City council, have some guts. Tell everyone in the "development industry" to go pound sand up their asses. If they "must" pass the costs on new home buyers, guess what? I DON'T GIVE A SHIT! Raise the new home cost by 200%, 1000%, whatever you want. I STILL DON'T CARE.
It is utter nonsense that I am expected to subsidise the extravagance of someone else. On average, families have NEVER been smaller while houses have NEVER been bigger. If some one wants to live beyond their means or what is rational or necessary, let THEM foot the full tab. No free ride on my back, Jack. If you don't like it, take a picture of how much I care. I like your expectation that you can extort me at will even less. Sleep on the street for all I care.
on Feb 21st, 2011 at 11:09pm Report Abuse
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on Feb 22nd, 2011 at 10:05pm Report Abuse
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