By Lexi McFarlane, Times Chronicle
The Town of Oliver has settled on its water and sewer rate hikes for 2026, opting to pad the numbers slightly in a bid to fund short- and medium-term projects and ensure crucial safety nets are replenished.
The November 17 Open and Regular Council Meetings saw elected officials mull over proposed rates that ultimately saw rate bylaw amendments pushing water rates up 5 per cent and sewer rates up 10 per cent from next year.
The rate increases will fund several projects in the short- and medium-term future, as well as help replenish depleted reserve funds. Major projects slated for 2026 include the sewer and water infrastructure replacements on Similkameen Avenue and Main Street, as well as completion of work on the Rockcliffe Well and highlift sewer upgrades.
Reserve funds being replenished will add a safety net down the line, especially in years where a higher reliance on grant money is forecast.
Following a special Open Council meeting on October 27, Council directed staff to update the draft bylaw with rate increases of 5 per cent for water, and 7 per cent for sewer. The meeting, which delved into all the water and sewer projects needing to be funded, was a bit testy at times as Council determined the best approach to addressing the rate increases.
Prior to the November 17 Regular Council Meeting, another separate open meeting was held earlier that same day to adjust and confirm the rate increases one last time before sending those bylaw amendments for all three readings. During this meeting, the proposed increases were adjusted to 6 and 10 per cent for water and sewer rates, respectively.
Councillor David Mattes stated that the higher increases, while not desirable, would ultimately be critical to keeping a high standard of maintenance and project completion.
“I’m starting to think about all the infrastructure projects we have upcoming (all the funding) that’s required to rebuild, in the Town of Oliver,” Mattes said. “Maybe it’s time for us to get past trying to keep (increases) low, low, low all the time.
“That extra three per cent (for sewer rates), over time, will make a huge difference in what we can build. As a Council, we really need to start thinking about that… And it’s not just for sewer, it’s also for water, and for general.”
The notion had the backing of Councillor Petra Veintimilla, who wanted to see healthier water and sewer reserves.
“I totally support that idea, both in sewer and in water,” she said. “Where our reserves are going to be at for sewer, and you look at water reserves, where they’re going to be at for next year, both of those numbers make me uncomfortable, looking at how low they are.”
At the regular council meeting, the water rate bylaw amendment, brought forth with the revised number of 6 per cent, failed to pass with a 3-3 tie, with Mattes unavailable for the vote.
Water Councillor Rick Machial then moved the original amendment, with a 5 per cent rate increase, which had to be done as three separate motions. The amendment passed by a 5 to 1 margin, with Veintimilla in opposition.
The sewer rate bylaw amendment remained at its revised figure of a 10 per cent, and passed with only Councillor Aimee Grice in opposition.
Under the water rate bylaw amendment, the average annual cost now increases from $723 to $759, amounting to a $3 per month increase. The Flat Domestic User Fee will sit at $619.36 annually.
Meanwhile, under the new sewer rate bylaw amendment, the average annual cost to a homeowner increases to $646, up from $587. The yearly amount that single- and multi-family residential dwellings will pay per unit is $455.53, with metered rates now sitting at $1.46 per cubic meter.
Irrigation rates for 10-acre farms will increase by $159, to $3,334 annually in 2026. The monthly amount the increase works out to is $13.25.
