Costs continue to go up for taxpayers in Quesnel.
City Council unanimously gave the first three readings to a number of changes at Tuesday (Nov 26) night’s meeting.
Director of Finance Kari Bolton said that water fees would once again be going up by 10 percent.
“The challenge is we have some major water capital projects coming up…both the water main under the Johnston Bridge, a new well, a new water main over on Leonard and Lunn. Currently we have 8.3 million in water capital spending over the next 5 years, so we need to put more funding into the reserves.”
The 10 percent increase amounts to an extra $26.68 a year.
Sewer fees are going up by 5 percent or $15.36.
Bolton talked about the need for potential future increases as well.
“We were just informed today (Tuesday) that our costs for treating our effluent are actually going to go up substantially in 2025, so we will have to relook at our utilities fees again next year, but the intent of the 5 percent was to cover inflation and to ensure that our reserve had enough for future capital plans.”
Bolton noted that garbage fees were going up once again.
“For our garbage fees, we have an increase of 15 dollars for a small can. Last year Council made the decision that they wanted garbage fees to cover more landfill fees, that it was more incorporated into the costs of garbage fees and we decided to do it over two years, so this is the second of those increases to bring the cost up to 130, from 100 dollars that it was two years ago.”
Landfill fees are going up by 10 dollars in most categories.
“We’ve got some significant future capital costs. We’ve got to expand the berm to increase the air space, we’re dealing with methane gas that is going to need a capture system, we’ve got closure costs. So there are some really significant future capital costs at the landfill that are going to need to be funded.”
There will be a 5 percent hike in cemetery fees.
Bolton indicated that the Cariboo Regional District wanted to pay less in this area, approximately $50,000 less per year.
“In order to compensate that I think we’ll have to a two tiered system where Cariboo Regional District residents are paying more at the cemetery. So we’re going to take a look at that and bring back potential plot prices and service prices for CRD residents versus city residents if the Cariboo Regional District decides to go that way with the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding)
All of the changes will go into effect on January 1st.
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