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South sewer plan an expensive venture

Dear editor,

Union Bay to Royston residents, on June 18 you get your chance to vote on the well-intended but expensive South Sewer Service plan down.

Unless you don’t mind paying next year and the following 29 years thereafter around $2,000 a year (+/- $60,000 in total) for operation/maintenance and capital debt repayment.

Of course there is a way to pay less for this if you have an old sock laying around and stacked with $ 22,000 that you don’t mind flushing out to get connected to this unique but expensive sewer system. If you do that, you still face a yearly operations and maintenance fee of $636.00 starting next year and going up every year with the rate of inflation.

Just this operation fee is already almost twice the amount ($390) that was budgeted only over a year ago.

The strange thing about this sewer plan is that despite CVRD finding $13.3 million in an extra grant, the capital cost to homeowners from Royston to Union Bay is only reduced by $3.5 million. What happened to the $10 million?

Yes, Cumberland backed out, for good reason as this plan is financially way out of proportion for the average individual, not to mention the many low-income earners, seniors and other retirees. They form the bulk of the residents occupying this area from Royston to Union Bay and will see their annual tax-bill in many cases more than double.

The CVRD will respond with the argument that if you are eligible, the parcel tax can be deferred. Putting it as lien towards your property and pay another .7 per cent interest (Province of BC rate) on that. With the 5 per cent interest already on the capital cost over 20 years, now at 5.7 per cent, you are going to pay twice the original sewer cost.

Homeowners of area A unite, and say no to the referendum on June 18 and if you are in need of a new septic, buy one for a fraction of this CVRD plan with virtually no maintenance costs for years to enjoy.

Marianne Buijs

Area A