DENINU KU'E/FORT RESOLUTION
Fort Resolution residents will be paying a bit more for water and sewer services next year.
The fee increase was one cost-saving measure in the Hamlet's 2013-14 budget which was approved on March 20.
"It was a little challenging budget this year," said Patrick Simon, the hamlet's deputy mayor.
Simon said the hamlet had to make a lot of changes to how it spends its money, and how it operates and conducts business.
"We talked a lot about ensuring that we watch every dollar we have, and then the dollars that we spend we get the most out of it, be the most efficient and really watch our money," he said. "I think it was a penny-pinching budget."
The frugality has been partially prompted by the fact the hamlet has an "accumulated deficit" for operations and maintenance. Neither Simon nor hamlet council would release what the community's debt is.
The budget - for the fiscal year April 1, 2013, to March 31, 2014 - contained only one fee increase, and that was for trucked water delivery and sewer takeaway.
Simon said, on an average monthly bill of $40, the increase will be about $4.
The deputy mayor said the rate had been very low in Fort Resolution compared to other communities of similar size in the North.
"Of course, we'd like to keep it low, but the water and sewer program has got to sustain itself," he said.
"So we've brought it up to bring us more in line with everyone else that pays for water and sewer within the territories."
An increase of $4 may not seem like a lot, Simon said. "But to a person who doesn't have $4 to spare, it could be a lot. We really discussed that and, as a council, we felt that this is a good enough raise that should take us along the way without really impacting the homeowner."
There is virtually no new spending in the budget.
"We actually didn't have anything other than just doing some work in terms of replacing the lights at the arena," Simon said, noting the new lights will be more energy-efficient.
The hamlet will also adjust the work of some employees with an eye to saving money.
For example, Simon said there would be big savings by running water and sewer trucks six days a week instead of seven days a week.
"I think we cut about a person-year off our water treatment operation," he said.
The hamlet's finance officer will also work more closely with council when it is making decisions.
In another change, the council has directed the hamlet's recreation department to more aggressively fundraise, and a target has been set at $50,000.
The Hamlet of Fort Resolution is not a tax-based municipality. Its funding comes largely from the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, and gas tax money.
