By Cecilia Nasmith

Cobourg

With much controversy, the Town of Cobourg's revised stormwater billing structure will begin in February.

Following impassioned community feedback on its stormwater rate structure and its subsequent full review of the matter, the Town of Cobourg is implementing its new fee structure in February.

This new model is a flat fee for properties up to one acre in size. An additional $188.28 per hectare per month applies to commercial, institutional and industrial properties larger than that – though there are no additional charges for larger parcels of residential or vacant land.

Cemeteries will be charged at the vacant-land rate, as council moved in June to reclassify cemeteries accordingly.

These changes will appear, starting with the February 2025 bills.

Residential and vacant land (as well as industrial, commercial and institutional land up to one acre in size) - $7.78 per month ($93.40 per year)

Industrial-commercial-institutional larger than one acre - $7.78 plus $188.28 per hectare monthly.

New for 2025, property owners will see a designated Stormwater Charges section on their LUSI bills, listing credits or owed amounts from the 2023-2024 adjustment, as well as current charges.

A credit will be issued to property owners who paid a higher amount prior to the adjustments that will be applied to stormwater charges only.

For those owed in excess of $300, refunds will be issued – a bank credit for those who have set up pre-authorized payments, a cheque otherwise.

Property owners who paid less than the revised 2023-2024 rates will be invoiced for these additional fees. Properties owing more than $45 will have this adjustment spread out over the 12 months of billing in 2025.

There will be no interest charges applied for outstanding stormwater management balances until January 2026.

For more information, visit Cobourg.ca/stormwater. If you have questions about your billing, e-mail lusi@lusi.on.ca or call 905-372-2193.