Updated utility service fees for the Cariboo Regional District’s 16 water and sewer systems have been approved.
CRD Board Chair Margo Wagner said these fees are the primary revenue source to fund operating and maintenance costs for each system.
“You don’t want a line break in a sewer system nor do you want a waterline break and so in order to have the money available to fix these things we needed to up the utility rates.”
User fees represent between 50% to 100% of each systems funding requirements and are critical to any future maintenance and renewal plans with the remainder generated by property taxes within each service area.
“Some of the increases are dependant on how old the system is and also what kind of water treatment is currently needed because it’s the Province and the Health Authority that mandates what levels are acceptable in a public taxed water system.”
The CRD said funds raised for each system can only be used for that system to finance its continued operation, maintenance, and improvements.
“The infrastructure cost of replacing parts of these or all of these 16 water and sewer systems has gone absolutely crazy.” Wagner said, “So the Board and the Utilities Manager having lots of discussions decided that we needed to raise the amount we collect in order to have sufficient money in reserves.”
Residential rates for each system are increasing as follows:
- 103 Mile Water: $433 ($42 increase)
- 108 Mile Water: $307 ($12 increase)
- Alexis Creek Water: $548 ($7 increase)
- Alexis Creek Sewer: $183 ($24 increase)
- Benjamin Water: $446 ($70 increase)
- Canim Lake Water: $869 ($83 increase)
- Forest Grove Water: $452 ($83 increase)
- Gateway Water: $529 ($18 increase)
- Horse Lake Water: $357 ($75 increase)
- Lac La Hache Water: $303 ($28 increase)
- Lac La Hache Sewer: $234 ($8 increase)
- Lexington Water: $1,078 ($98 increase)
- Pine Valley Sewer: $679 ($62 increase)
- Red Bluff Sewer: $299 ($10 increase)
- Russet Bluff Water: $561 ($86 increase)
- Wildwood Sewer: $271 ($19 increase)
Utility bills are expected to be delivered to homeowners this month (April) and are due by May 31, 2025.
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