Property owners in the Town of Osoyoos will once again see a marginal increase in fees relating to water, sewer and waste management services.

Town council unanimously passed the first three readings approving the rate increases during Monday’s regular meeting of council.

The new rates won’t go into effect until the final town budget is adopted in March or April.

Council has tentatively approved its budget for 2016, calling for a 1.97 per cent increase in the millrate for property owners.

The user fees for water, sewer and waste management are separate and charged on top of the millrate increase.

On Monday, council approved a staff recommendation to increase the garbage/recycling rate by $2.49 to $126.93 for a single family residence in 2016.

The other rate change is increasing the garbage tag rate from $2.25 to $2.30.

One housekeeping item is that regular size tires without rims will now be accepted free of charge at the local landfill, which is consistent with policy at other landfills across the region, said Jim Zakall, the town’s director of financial services.

The water rate for those who own homes in District A of the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen will see a $20 increase to water user fees for domestic use with a 5.49 per cent increase to the other water district user fees and a two per cent increase to parcel irrigation fees, said Zakall.

The 2016 rate for domestic water rates will be $384 per household.

“As a comparison, the Town of Oliver’s 2016 residential rate is $381,” said Zakall.

The increase in rates is expected to raise an additional $18,000 in revenues for the town to be used on water capital projects.

Funding available for all water capital projects in 2016 is $448,135, down substantially from the $560,000 spent in 2015.

The town also charges flat rates for water usage to campgrounds, commercial businesses, heavy commercial use and commercial greenhouses.

Council has also tentatively approved a $6.86 increase to sewer user fees for a single family residence with a 2.97 per cent increase to other sewer user fees.

The 2016 rate for a single family residence will be $237.87 in town and $330.87 in the rural area.

The increase in rates is expected to raise an additional $37,800 in revenues, said Zakall.

These marginal increases in water, sewer and waste management user fees are necessary to ensure the town can continue to maintain and improve its infrastructure, said Mayor Sue McKortoff. It’s good policy to inform the public about these rate increases rather than simply mailing them their annual tax bill without any explanation relating to user fee increases, she said. The total increase in water, sewer and waste management user fees for 2016 adds up to just over one dollar per week for the owners of a single family residence.

KEITH LACEY

Osoyoos Times