As part of the City of Kimberley’s multiyear plan to get its utility funds to sustainability, rates will rising again in 2017.
Council has given first three readings to the bylaw to increase utility fees in the coming year. Water rates will now be $116.94 per quarter and sewer $77.46 and solid waste remains at an annual rate of $64.80, bringing that to a yearly total of $842.40, up from $807.48 last year.
The goal is to be able to fund upgrades to utiltities through the funds themselves.
“The whole goal of the increases is to make the water and sewer funds self-sustainable,” said Mayor Don McCormick. “Over the years, reserves weren’t built and investments weren’t made, which makes the increases necessary. This is the second year of a multi-year increase but the increases will drop off dramatically in 2018.”
The approved sewer user fees do not take into consideration the eventual design and replacement of the Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP), noted a report from Chief Financial Officer Jim Hendricks. The $36 million estimated cost of this project is included in the draft 2017-2021 Capital Plan with the design and engineering phase scheduled for completion in 2019 and the construction in 2020.