The Town of Banff is phasing out its seniors’ discount on water and sewer bills.
Instead, based on the finance committee’s direction, administration is investigating a possible replacement program that could be based more on ability-to-pay, rather than being a senior.
“The thinking is the current program is not working fairly to all concerned. The current program has been for homeowners only and we do have a number of seniors who are renters,” said Mayor Karen Sorensen.
“In addition, the suggestion at the finance committee table was that perhaps we need to look more at income-based than just an age-based program, that it be more about ability to pay.”
There are currently 174 households that take advantage of the seniors’ discount program at a rate of $100 a year. The discount program costs the municipality about $17,400 each year.
In a report to the finance committee, Kelly Gibson, Banff’s corporate services manager, said utility accounts are in the owner’s name and the Town of Banff does not have a way to track renters.
If utilities are included in the rent, he said, there is no guarantee the renter will benefit from the discount, and if the renter is paid the discount directly, there is no guarantee the account will be paid.
He said if the program was extended to renters, there would be 34 eligible units in Mount Edith House, 10 in Cascade House and potentially 15 in Olympic House. The last census identified 300 seniors.
“With 174 accounts registered and roughly 60 units in senior housing, we are estimating 20 other units that would be potentially eligible for the discount, assuming some of the units would be cohabitated with other seniors,” he said.
The finance committee received a letter from resident Roger Leslie, who said he could provide a list of a dozen Banff seniors who own their million-dollar homes and are themselves very wealthy.
“I can also submit a companion list of a dozen Banff seniors who rent their accommodation and live on very, very modest incomes,” he said.
“So the Town is providing financial assistance to those who certainly don’t need it and denying it to those who could use and appreciate it.”
Given the results of the Banff’s community social assessment, Gibson said one option is to direct funds to a more inclusive low-income program addressing social targets in the community plan.
He said funds could also be directed to conservation programs addressing environmental targets.
“If the discount program were eliminated without a replacement program, the savings would be spread among all utility ratepayers or could be used to increase the transfers to the water and sewer reserves,” he said.
