Patti Fletcher is concerned taxpayers in the regional district will be burdened with a cumbersome debt resulting from an abundance of sewer projects on the horizon. At Tuesday’s sewage commission meeting, the Comox director noted an approximate $42-million shortfall estimated to carry over following a 10-year period during which $33 million can be recovered by development cost charges (DCCs).”I assume we’re feeling uneasy as to how that looks,” Fletcher said at the meeting which includes directors from Courtenay and Comox. “Some things are maybe not of paramount importance. I think it’s worthy of a second sober look.”Numerous projects — new pump stations and sludge composting at the Pidgeon Lake landfill among them — are estimated to cost nearly $88 million, offset by a government grant just shy of $6 million. Courtenay director Manno Theos asked if some projects could be delayed, but senior manager of engineering services Marc Rutten does not foresee the possibility of dropping a project without revisiting a 10-year capital plan process that prioritized projects. “Is there not another method of funding these projects?” said Comox director/commission chair Tom Grant, who suggests water, solid waste and hospital requisitions could be looked at together. “We have to go back to our taxpayers at the end of the day.”Courtenay director Starr Winchester shares the concerns expressed by the Comox representatives. Her motion for a staff report comparing the Valley to other areas in B.C. carried. The CVRD recommends an amendment to the sewer system cost charges bylaw to incorporate increased DCCs, which it deems necessary to reflect capital infrastructure requirements. A study concludes that a significant increase in sewer service DCCs is required. As an example, it proposes to charge developers $5,980 per unit for single-family residential. The current charge is $2,470/unit.”It is a heavy hit to the development industry,” Fletcher said. The regional district has yet to consult with the development community about the recommended rate hikes, said Rutten, noting the proposed increase is an opportunity to collect more money from developers and to offset costs. Courtenay director Jon Ambler, while shocked by the proposed rate increase from $7.20 to $34.89 per square metre for commercial/institutional, said delaying projects would not help the situation. “I don’t think we have a lot of choices on this one,” he said.   Although rate hikes will likely slow projects, Comox director Maureen Swift also supports the proposed increases. The discussion will continue at the next sewage commission meeting. reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com

Comox Valley Record