Utility rates are expected to increase significantly for people living in Boissevain.

The Public Utilities Board is presently looking at a request to hike rates by as much as 28 per cent in the first year.

“Right now it is still out as a public notice and we don’t have a firm date as to when the increase will actually take place. If there are objections it has to be brought to the P-U-B and if there is enough objection the board will decide whether or not a public hearing is needed” said Boissevain-Morton CAO Leo Poulin.

Boissevain hasn’t seen a rate increase since 2009 and Poulin says the utility is operating with a deficit that runs into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Following any public meetings the Public Utilities Board would then tell the municipality about any amendments that would be needed before the by-law could be passed.

‘We’ve been seeing deficits for quite a few years and we are kind of at the mercy of the P-U-B in relation to approvals. Many municipalities feel the responsibility for approving rate hikes should be with the municipalities because they are the ones who know if indeed they need to increase rates.”

Until know council had been pulling money from reserves but that has been depleted and they have most recently been getting funds out of general operating. Poulin says they are separate budgets but are presented at the same time with financial presentations.

“Expenditures are part of the reason for the deficit but at the same time revenue as well is part of the issue due to the fact it is out of our control because the utility board approves these rates. But there is also the factor of weather because sometimes in the summer months it can get really dry so mother nature is also a factor” said Poulin.