The Town of Oliver finalized a five-year plan that sees rate increases across the board, including water and sewer utility rates and parcel taxes, pushing an average increase of $244 to $1,372.10 for an average home this year, up 21.6 per cent over last year.
Amidst the 2026 rate increases being locked in by the Town of Oliver, staff gave a visual presentation of what the next five years will look like for water and sewer rates, reserves, and projects in the town, and where things stand financially.
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.
A roughly 10-per-cent hike in the cost of municipal services will hit Osoyoos residents next year following the town council’s initial approval of water, sewer and garbage rates.
Oliver Council was presented this week with a proposed 2026 Utility Rate bylaw that would see one-time significant increases to fixed and variable rates, in preparation for substantial work needing to be completed next year.
The Regional District of the Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) is still considering how strong the wording should be on discouraging the development of private water and sewer systems in the region.
When it comes to Oliver’s budget, everyone sees a light at the end of the tunnel, the problem is, it’s the light of a train barreling down the tunnel.
Local politicians are already divided over a proposal to prohibit the development of private water and sewer systems.
Oliver’s water and sewer infrastructure is expected to hold up, but the town could still use an additional ground water source, says TRUE Consulting.
The Osoyoos 2024 budget has now been approved after it received third reading today by Council resulting in a combined tax, water and sewer hike of about 24 per cent over 2023 but down from the original 39 per per cent proposed last fall.
Under ongoing pressure to reduce the tax burden on Osoyoos residents, elected officials continued to chip away at the budget behemoth but gave pause at the recent special budget meeting at the Sonora Centre to consider the ramifications of “borrowing from Peter to pay Paul”.
As the controversially large tax and services hike for Osoyoos taxpayers edges its way toward reconsideration, two visions of how the town should deal with its aging water and sewer infrastructure have emerged.
The proverbial rubber has hit the road with an ungodly squeal as Osoyoos residents struggle to wrap their heads around the nearly 40 per cent jump in property taxes and user fees.
The Town of Oliver is charting a new era of its five year capital plan as the draft presented to council is a product of new people “taking the reins” and has a heavy focus on water projects.
Osoyoos closer to annexing two properties