Williams Lake City Council is dipping into its reserves to balance its upcoming capital budget.
Council approved covering a $2,450,331 water and a $122,904 sewer shortfall, out of its roughly $5.8 million water reserve funds in Tuesday, March 10’s council meeting.
Councillor Scott Neslon said the decision to spend reserve money is to continue the City’s goal to be debt-free.
“We’re quite frankly in a very healthy position to be able to move our community forward. We took a very strong position eight years ago to pay down the debt for this community. It looks like it’s going to be paid off in 2027.”
There were over five projects that were either new or that had been previously passed over in 2025’s and 2024’s capital budgets, added to the water and sewer lists.
These projects for water include:
- Golf course zone 1 to 2 booster station construction for $1,366,599. Which had been taken off previous budgets and needs to be put on 2026’s.
- A new Water Well #6 for $538,962
- A new Scout Island Water Mains Replacement Design for $465,324
- Relining of Water Reservoirs for $180,000. A previous project from 2025 that needs to be added to the 2026 list. Another $180,000 has already been allocated to 2027’s capital budget.
- A new Water Well Model for $30,000
- and new Water Security Cameras for $30,000.
City Staff reported that these items were for water work towards the water treatment plant. The staff’s report also noted that using water reserve funds for these projects means there will be less money available for future water treatment plant costs.
Nelson added that City Staff are continuously being directed to look for funding and grant opportunities to ensure water treatment plant projects will fit into future budgets.
“Our top priority as a council is once our debt is paid off, to ensure that we’ve got safe drinking water in a treatment plant that’s going to take place. We have squirreled away some cash, and behind the scenes, there’s been great debates about it. But at the end of the day, this community is in a very healthy, strong position to move forward to advance its cause to engage in the prospects of building a proper treatment plant.”
Mayor Surinderpal Rathor reiterated the same sentiments as Councillor Nelson, adding that another goal in balancing the budget is to keep taxes low.
“This year, the council’s direction to staff is to bring the budget close to zero. Council and staff are still working on it, but it’s nothing but a win-win situation. Paying the debt and reducing taxes were the key last year. We are working on this year. Already, we have done a record high number of projects.”
The decision to use reserves was approved unanimously by the council.
City Staff reports it is still receiving public feedback on the proposed 2026 Capital Budget.
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