Politics
Born City Council Approves Phased Water Rate Ordinance, With Adjusted Bills Starting October 2026
Born residents will see the first changes to monthly water and sewer charges on October utility statements after the council approved the ordinance on a 6-1 vote at its July 7 meeting.
How we reported this
Born City Council passed the Water Conservation Rate Ordinance at its regular meeting on July 7, establishing a tiered pricing structure that raises base rates for households using more than 15,000 litres per month while holding steady charges for lower usage. The measure applies to all residential accounts served by the Born Municipal Utilities Department and takes effect in billing cycles that begin October 1.
Background on the Ordinance
The ordinance responds to a projected shortfall in the utilities department's 2026 operating budget, which the city finance office documented at $1.8 million after accounting for increased treatment costs recorded in the department's March quarterly report. Council members reviewed three alternative rate models before selecting the tiered option that projects an average annual increase of $48 for households exceeding the monthly threshold.
Local residents will encounter the new structure first through their October statements, which cover usage from mid-September onward. Property managers at multi-unit buildings on Main Street and River Road have already received advance notices from the utilities department outlining how common-area meters will be calculated under the revised tiers.
Next Steps for Implementation
City staff will mail updated rate schedules to all 14,200 residential accounts by August 15, followed by two public information sessions scheduled for August 22 and 29 at the Born Community Centre. Enforcement of the higher tier begins with the October billing cycle, and the utilities department will issue a compliance report to council by December 31 detailing actual revenue collected against the $1.8 million target.
Further adjustments remain scheduled for review in the 2027 budget process, when the council will consider whether to extend the same tiered model to commercial accounts along the industrial corridor east of Highway 12.