I ran this back in Febuary now we are getting close to the election I thought I would run it again to compare our rates to other Southern Alberta communities.
Cost of living in the Crowsnest Pass, really to compare taxes to other communities is comparing “apples to oranges” which I have been so wisely told by a number of my readers, what we can compare though and have a fairly accurate comparison is our cost of utilities, those being: water, sewer, storm water, garbage and recycling.
Anyway I have comparisons from eight other rural communities in Southern Alberta.
Crowsnest Pass
Water $23.00
Sewer $16.05
Storm Water $0
Garbage $17.82
Recycling $2.50
Total of $59.37 per month
Pincher Creek
Water $61.32 (No meter)
Sewer $16.06
Storm Water $0
Garbage $18.35
Recycling $3.58
Total of $99.31 per month
Ft Macleod
Water $37.87 (plus meter)
Sewer $23.40
Storm Water $0
Garbage $13.35
Recycling $0
Total of $74.62 per month (plus water meter charges)
Coaldale
Water $19.32 (plus meter)
Sewer $12.98
Storm Water $4.95
Garbage $19.44
Recycling $2.49
Total of $59.18 per month (plus water meter charges)
Raymond
Water $15.00 (plus meter)
Sewer $12.50
Storm Water $0
Garbage $20.00
Recycling $0
Total of $47.50 per month (plus water meter charges)
Claresholm
Water $30.00 (plus meter)
Sewer $10.90
Storm Water $0
Garbage $9.80
Recycling $0
Total of $50.70 per month (plus water meter charges)
Nanton
Water $12.65 (plus meter)
Sewer $18.90
Storm Water $0
Garbage $7.35
Recycling $0
Total of $38.90 per month (plus water meter charges)
Taber
Water $24.81 (plus meter)
Sewer $26.56
Storm Water $6.33
Garbage $16.65
Recycling $2.04
Total of $76.39 per month (plus water meter charges)
Coalhurst
Water $34.60 (plus meter)
Sewer $19.92
Storm Water $0
Garbage $13.34
Recycling $0
Total of $67.86 per month (plus water meter charges)
What struck me has a little surprising was almost every community I looked at has water meters in place.
5 comments:
Thank you for your comparisons. They were very enlightening. It would seem that we are "lucky" to live here, as opposed to any number of other places.
In the position of being a councilor, the number one item I am contacted about is the cost of living here. Taxes, Utility costs, etc its amazing for 10 months of the year I am approached again and again about we should be doing this and that. (all of which cost money, of course)
The other two months of the year (right around tax notice time) I am contacted by often the same people, telling me we should not be spending money on this and that.
Anyway back to the point of my post the only way to know if our costs are reasonable is to compare to other comparative communties.
I have always felt that our taxes are too high, but our Utility costs are in line when you compare.
Perhaps it is time that Crowsnest Pass look at the use of water meters. Not only does it show that the municipality is committed to a sustainable future, but it will make the "users" pay for the amount they use. There is a lot of water being wasted.
Thank you for the information you have provided.
My concern is that the numbers you have compiled are a bit misleading.
The cost of utilities is only a portion of the total costs residents pay to their local municipality. To give a more complete picture, you would need to add a comparison of the mill rates, as property taxes subsidies utility rates. It is very unlikely that any of the rates indicated are in any way related to the actual cost of providing these services. These are just arbitrary values that do not reflect the true cost of municipal services. Further, to do a fair comparison, there are other attributes that should be compared i.e. quality / reliability of delivery. This may seem a bit more subjective due to what seems to be more of an intangible measurement, but if the municipalities administration is focused on reliability and customer service, this information should be captured and reviewed on preset schedules, and would be easy to compile and compare.
To address your last comment, "I have always felt that our taxes are too high, but our Utility costs are in line when you compare." You cant separate the two, and you should be comparing the total costs before any statements can be made regarding how we compare to other communities.
Just for your information... I live in Fort Macleod, but work in Pincher Creek/ Crowsnest Area and my water, sewer and garbage pickup is in excess of $125 per month and we are told to expect another significant increase (which has already been passed) in the coming months...
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