City Council has approved the 2025 water and wastewater budget, with an annual increase of 5.49%. The increase follows the City’s 10-year financial plan with the addition of a 1% capital levy that will help the City invest more in necessary water and wastewater capital projects. The average 5 room home will pay $26 more for water, $37 more for wastewater per year, plus a $14.79 levy payment, for a total of $77.79 for municipal service. The same household will pay approximately $6.50 more per month on their utility bill compared to last year.
The 1% levy meets the recommendations outlined in the City’s 2024 Asset Management Plan, presented to Council on October 15, 2024. In the Asset Management Plan, it was noted that the City’s current rate of capital expenditures, the amount the City is reinvesting in infrastructure, should be increased. A strategy to use multi-year capital levies was one recommendation that would help close the gap and allow the City to focus on capital investment to develop, maintain, or improve water and wastewater infrastructure.
In 2025, the City has budgeted approximately $23.4 million gross expenditure towards water and wastewater capital projects. Included in the approved budget is the replacement of underground infrastructure between Crawford St. to the Porcupine River Bridge as part of connecting link construction. The 2-year Tisdale Reservoir Project is budgeted at $3.4 million per year and will replace the existing reservoir, pump, and watermains with a new facility closer to South Porcupine. The City is also phasing in a 3-year subdivision development plan that begins with the installation of water, sewer, and stormwater infrastructure to facilitate new residential construction.
The water and wastewater budget is approved separately from the general 2025 municipal budget or taxation fund because revenues are sourced from user fees and not property tax.
The full long-term financial plan for water and wastewater available on the City of Timmins website under Our Services > Water and Sewer.