BEHCHOKO/RAE-EDZO - Swimming in debt, the community of Behchoko is almost doubling water rates and reducing staff hours and still looking at possible job cuts.

A 90 per cent increase in water rates was approved by the community council last week, according to SAO David Steele.

Steele said most residents are paying upwards of $80 a month for their water service, but will soon be paying near $150.

He says the rates have been the same for the past 10 years, and the adjustment is long overdue as the costs for providing the water delivery and other associated material has gone up.

"It's time for a rate increase, not necessarily to recover costs, but to ensure the accumulated shortfalls don't grow farther," he said.

While the increase in water rates might seem steep, Steele said the numbers showed that the hike in rates should have been as high as 140 per cent.

Other cost-reducing measures are being reviewed as well. Steele said the community could see a difference in how the council operates the office, some recreational programming might be affected as well as potential lay-off of staff members.

Reduced hours for staff members is another action being approved by council.

Steele said when backed into a financial situation like this, there are two options: get more money coming into the community or reduce costs.

He suggested that Behchoko residents can reduce the hit taken from the rate increase by decreasing water usage. New meters have been installed to give the council a better idea of how much water is being used by each household.

Longtime resident Dan Marion says while the rate increase won't be favoured by some members of the community, the community must learn to live within its means.

"The hamlet is right and it's time they got on the ball," he said.

He also said the problem shouldn't be blamed on the hamlet office alone.

"MACA (Municipal and Community Affairs) is also to blame for this, we're dealing with water and sewer pipes that are over 34 years old," said Marion.

Garbage pickup is another service that will be affected by the cost cutting measures. Steele said instead of pickup happening three times a week, people will only get two visits by the garbage truck.

That is expected to start this week.

Steele said people were forewarned of the need for fiscal restraint at a public meeting held on Jan. 11, 2011. The reasons for Behchoko's financial woes were outlined in the reading material provided at that meeting. The first reason listed was the water and sewer operations deficit of $4.3 million.

The second was that there is not enough cash on hand to support capital fund accounts. The community is short $2.5 million that has built up over the last 10 years.

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