Get ready to dig deeper into your taxpayer pocket

By Jeremy Deutsch - Kamloops This Week Published: December 02, 2011 11:00 PM

It could get more expensive to be a Kamloops homeowner in the new year.  Two staff reports will be heading to city council on Tuesday, Dec. 6, recommending rate increases for a pair of utilities. City staff is proposing an increase in water- and sewer-utility rates by five per cent and curbside and commercial-garbage collection rates by five and 10 per cent respectively. If approved by council, the rates would take effect on Jan. 1, 2012.  The water and sewer-rate increases would work out to about an extra $26 for water service and an extra $12 for sewer service annually for a typical single-family dwelling.  According to a staff report, there are several reasons behind the sewer-rate increase recommendation, including a large jump in fuel and hydro costs next year, inflationary increases for services and labour, increased capital expenditures and a plan to maintain a fund-reserve balance equivalent to 25 per cent of annual revenues.  The report also noted the increase would have been 14 per cent if the universal water-metering program had not been implemented. As for garbage collection, the average homeowner who uses a 245-litre cart will see a $6.52 increase in fees.  A report indicates the fee increase is required due to increased fuel costs, vehicle maintenance and landfill-disposal fees. In 2012, the city is expecting to spend $220,000 extra for monthly vehicle expenses related to fuel, $173,000 more for landfill tipping fees and $150,000 more for labour costs. Under the new fee scheme, homeowners will pay $119 for collection of a 254-litre cart, compared with Prince George and Kelowna, where residents pay $169 and $188 respectively.