“We always look at the rates every year, how much income we have, and what our expenses are. In our plan, we weren’t covering expenses. It was a smaller increase, so we were able to just apply. If the government agrees, you can just be approved. If not you have to go to a full study. They agreed with us, and approved a one year increase.”
It is what is known as a simplified utility rate application, which was approved at the end of the year.
There are many different rates for water in the municipality, and so the increases from the August 2022 numbers to now hit differently. An example is the rise in water per 1,000 gallons. This goes up from $17.88 to $18.82. Wastewater per 1,000 gallons will rise from $4.17 to $4.39. The minimum billings per quarter in a 5/8” metre will increase from $87.66 to $92.27. It is the kind of increase Swanson is happy with.
“This is why it is good to have these smaller increases. The government looks at that, they don’t want these 20% increases either.”
As well as basic water service, Boissevain-Morton is also looking at improvements in the utilities. Although still often referred to as the “new water plant”, the facility on the southeast side of town is now 25 years old. Upgrades are inevitable. One of the areas they are looking at is developing more water storage capacity. This has been particularly important since they shut down the water towers. As Swanson explained, the plant has underground storage capacity now. They would like to add to that and are looking at obtaining property in the area to put another tank underground.
“We’re working with a company now, looking at the best way to go,” Swanson said. “It would be side by side with the one under the plant now. We need more to cover ourselves if we have repairs.”
She added they would like to move the process forward in 2026.
On the other end, Boissevain-Morton is looking to finally get moving on the lagoon this year. At the end of 2025, the municipality received word they were getting a whopping $6.5 million for the project from higher levels of government, and the bulk of the work on the existing site southwest of town should start this spring. The head of council is very happy to get moving on these projects.
“It’s an exciting time,” she said. “If the community is to move forward, we need water storage and a new lagoon. It is essential to have these things.”
As for the rate increase, it will cover 2026. Then the municipality will look at the situation again, perhaps needing a study and setting a longer-term rate.
by PAUL RAYNER, Recorder staff