Residents of Tynaarlo will pay ten euros more in sewage charges in the coming years. According to the Municipal Executive of the municipality, this is ‘inevitable’ in view of the increasing costs incurred by the municipality for the maintenance of the sewer, such as the extra tasks for water collection and supply.
Where residents of Tynaarlo currently pay 165.87 euros in sewage charges, this will be 175.87 euros next year. In 2027, the total amount will be 213.77 euros. The VVD is concerned about this cost increase. “What if inflation continues to rise, will we then pay double for the sewer?” Gezinus Pieters wondered on behalf of the party.
According to finance alderman Hans de Graaf (ChristenUnie), the municipality of Tynaarlo expects an annual inflation increase of two percent. “That’s what the city council has decided.” A doubling of the costs is therefore not an issue, he says.
Pieters is not yet convinced. “It is a substantial increase, without taking into account the current inflation rate – which is above two percent – so we may end up paying even more. Do we want that?”
De Graaf emphasized that the municipality of Tynaarlo wants the costs of the sewage charges to be ‘cost-covering’. Only when residents of Tynaarlo start paying around 213 euros in 2027 will that actually be the case. Until then, the municipality will contribute annually to the costs of maintaining the sewer. These losses are covered from reserves of the municipality.
De Graaf: “We wanted the costs to rise gradually over a number of years, so that residents are not suddenly confronted with a very high cost increase.”
In the background, the municipality of Tynaarlo is working on a separate communication plan with a view to the sewer system. “We want to clearly communicate activities in our municipality in advance,” said Alderman Jelbrich Peters (PvdA). “There is also a bit of education involved. For example, what do you rinse away and what not? Think of baby wipes, which should not be flushed down the toilet. But washing the car is also better in the car wash than in your own driveway, because the rinse water then mixes with rainwater.”
Residents who have complaints about the sewage system within the municipality should also know where they can go. “What do you do if your toilet overflows after heavy rain? Residents should know that,” says Peters.