Members of the Water  Rates Committee are eager to get a look at the forecasts for the 2027-31 term.

So eager, they are requesting staff and Watson & Associates to come forward with “theoretical” rate estimates early in the new year. 

That’s despite the fact that the ink on two vital documents might not have fully dried.

The municipality’s Asset Management Plan and its Development Charges Background Study are still underway.

The Development Charges study determines the share of growth-related infrastructure costs that will be funded through development charges and those that must be funded by residents through water rates. The study includes growth forecasts by Watson and Associates. Work started in the third quarter of 2024 and is expected to conclude in 2026.

Meanwhile, the Asset Plan contains critical data on water/wastewater infrastructure, including age, rate of deterioration, and capacity, as well as lifecycle models. It will offer a financial analysis measuring funding needs against current funding streams, and incorporate lifetime funding requirements into forecasted water rates. Mandated by the province, it must be adopted by Council before the end of 2025.

Nevertheless, at its regular meeting at Shire Hall Thursday, the Committee approved a motion calling on staff to produce forecasted water and wastewater rates for the next term based on current knowledge, with the understanding that they will be subject to revision as the rate study process proceeds.

Sean-Michael Stephen of Watson & Associates said a January meeting with rate estimates would be “feasible” with the data available, but he also noted, “my concern is that we won’t have all the information we would typically need for an initial working session.” 

“We can asses the information and there will be some data around growth and water demand, but there might not be the full breadth of information we had hoped to discuss.” 

He then walked the committee through the rate study timeline. The study takes place between January and May of 2026.

A financial plan will be presented to the public by June of 2026. That plan will include rate structure recommendations.

The Development Charges and Asset Management Plan studies are critical to the upcoming 2027-31 rates study. Committee member Ray Ford asked they be sent on to members once completed.

“If we can be reviewing those documents, their recommendations and how they line up with the rates study, it’s a way to get information flowing to the committee so we can ask good questions going forward,” he noted.