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By Adam Campbell

Water Rates

Kamloops council to reconsider 25 per cent water rate hike, moves ahead with Noble Creek temporary pump

Nov 7, 2023 | 6:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops council has voted in favour of an approximately 4 per cent water utility rate increase in April 2024 to finance a temporary pumping system for locals affected by the decommissioning of the Noble Creek Irrigation System.

In concert with the move, council also rescinded the potential 25 per cent water rate hike for next year approved last week and will ask staff to come up with options on how to soften the blow.

At Tuesday’s (Nov. 7) meeting, councillors approved and debated for an appropriate funding option to pay for the $700,000 temporary NCIS pump, which will replace the old, to-be-decommissioned, irrigation system for the 2024 season.

Mayor and council voted in favour of paying for 75 per cent of the pump with the city’s water utility rates, and the remaining 25 per cent would be covered by NCIS customers.

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The 75 per cent portion represents a total of $525,000 to be paid by water utility rates, and 25 per cent equals $175,000 between the 41 customers of the irrigation system.

This entails a doubling of the rate for Noble Creek users, with customers currently paying between $63 to $11,516 for the service and averaging $1,528 annually.

In last Tuesday’s meeting (Oct. 31), council narrowly voted in favour of a water amendment bylaw that would see a 25 per cent increase to water utility rates, which would bring the total to an approximate 28 per cent increase starting next spring.

However, in this week’s meeting, council voted to reconsider that move.

Councillor Katie Neustaeter, mentioned families would be unable to cope with the surge, suggesting the increase be spread out.

“I do not think we need to reconsider 25 per cent. I think we need to think about how we financially structure 25 per cent. It can be spread out over time and we could include a logical increase,” said Neustaeter.

A survey will be expedited to NCIS customers to inform them of rate hike and determine how many clients would like to receive the service.

The surveys will be conducted by the working group, which was established to collaboratively implement council directives and relay important information to irrigation system users.

Utility Services Manager Greg Whiteman expressed that negative survey results to funding decisions and working in a short time frame could lead to delays for April 2024.