Quesnel City Council unanimously approved the first three readings for an increase at Tuesday night’s meeting.
Director of Finance Kari Bolton went over the details.
“For the water fund it is recommended that the fees be increased 10 percent in 2023, and the sewer utility fees its recommended they be increased by five percent.”
Bolton said significant inflation and several large projects in the capital plan was to blame for the increases.
“One of the challenges faced by the city for budget 2023 is that inflation for non residential construction was at 12.8 percent for the first quarter of 2022 versus the first quarter of 2021. This has had significant impact on the city’s capital projects.”
Bolton noted that the utility funds, both water and sewer, are self funded through user fees, frontage and parcel taxes.
The increases for 2023 amount to another $23.72 for water and $13.92 for sewer for a single family dwelling.
There is no change being proposed for most of the other fees, including for garbage pickup.
There are some minor changes to the landfill fees, and for the airport and cemetery.