City homeowners can brace for jacked up utility bills along with the expected tax hike after council voted on Edmonton’s utilities budget Tuesday.

Council finalized next year’s sewer and garbage spending plans and voted to pass an increase that will see annual fees for the typical single-family homeowner rise by almost $50 a year — that’s 6.5% — Tuesday.

“Whether it’s transit, or waste, or roads, we all use it and our citizens share the benefit and the costs,” said Mayor Stephen Mandel. “That’s why I support this budget.”

City officials say some of the reasons for the increase are rising costs for hauling and landfill use - since the private west Edmonton waste facility closed, a downturn in Edmontonians recycling, and a need for better training of staff in that department.

Waste service fees alone are slated to go up from $33.20 in 2013 to $35.36 a month, which amounts for most of the total utility bill increase.

But it’s good news on the garbage front, said Mandel.

The city officially approved a move from biweekly garbage collection to once a week on a pre-determined day — an added benefit that comes with no extra price tag.

Mandel says the change — which kicks in Feb. 5 — will mean more consistent collection, something he and his wife are looking forward to.

“My wife and I every week try to figure out when our garbage is supposed to go out,” he said. “Now we know we’re going to get a day, and we can put it out before that day.”

The new schedule means crews will work 10 hours a day Tuesday to Friday instead of five eight-hour weekly shifts, and with new, bigger garbage trucks, they’ll be able to haul more trash at a time.

“I think they’re doing a brilliant job putting together the best waste management system in North America,” said Mandel, adding the efforts to keep the budget low and changes to services show just how hard officials are working on the city’s waste management system.

Meanwhile, the department has fallen short of it’s goal to ensure 90% of the city’s trash is diverted from landfills by 2013.

This year the amount hung around 55% — but Mandel says it’s an issue that can be largely solved when Edmonton’s Waste-to-Biofuels Facility is built.

With one budget down, Edmontonians should brace for the next punch to their pocketbooks as council continues the great tax hike debate this week.

On Monday, city staff managed to reduce the proposed tax hike 5.5% to 4.7%, but Mandel says that’s still way too high.

A tax increase of 4.7% would mean $84 more each year for the average homeowner with a house valued at $350,000.

Add that to the $47 spike in each resident’s utility bill and that average homeowner is looking at shelling out $131 extra dollars in 2013.

Budget talks continue Wednesday as council delves into the departments of community, corporate, and financial services’ budgets.

angelique.rodrigues@sunmedia.ca

Annual Utility Bill Increases:

2013

Waste $26.00

Stormwater Drainage $9.00

Sanitary Drainage $12.00

Total annual increase $47.00

2012

Waste $22.32

Stormwater Drainage $16.08

Sanitary Drainage $48.36

Total annual increase $86.76

2011

Waste $18.00

Stormwater Drainage $7.00

Sanitary Drainage $8.00

Total annual increase $33.00

2010

Waste $39.12

Stormwater Drainage $5.28

Sanitary Drainage $23.40

Total annual increase $67.80