File photo (Image credit: CFJC Today).

By Aaron Schulze

Water Utility Rate Spike

Kamloops council narrowly votes in favour of 25 per cent water utility rate increase

Nov 1, 2023 | 6:33 AM

KAMLOOPS — Homeowners in Kamloops are in store for a 25 per cent increase in their water utility rate next year.

During Tuesday’s (Oct. 31) regular meeting, Kamloops council narrowly voted in favour of a water amendment bylaw that will see a 25 per cent rate increase in 2024 and the percentages identified over the next five-year financial cycle.

The vote was 5-4 in favour with Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson and Councillors Kelly Hall, Katie Neustaeter and Mike O’Reilly opposed.

The increase would see an average Kamloops property pay $383 for water utility in 2023 to $478 in 2024.

In its report to council, City of Kamloops staff mentioned there are supply chain challenges and market inflation that adds to the costs on various water utility materials, along climate change driven events and municipal growth and public demand.

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Prior to the vote, Councillor Hall said he would be in favour of spreading the 25 per cent increase over multiple years. He added council and the city need to look at a utility rate review.

“We need to evaluate the financial sustainability of water, sewer, waste and recycle. Evaluate and look at recommendations that might come from that rate review so that we can apply it moving forward in a more holistic way,” Hall said in council chambers.

On the other end of the vote, Councillor Stephen Karpuk says it may finally be time for the City of Kamloops to play catch up with utility rates.

“I think the steady as you go, zero-based budgeting, three-year cost average got us into a predicament,” Karpuk said in council chambers. “We already made a decision. Whether you thought about it before or you didn’t, this is a cost we have to pay some how.’

The full report from city staff can be read here.