Two Percent Water Rate Hike

Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM Thursday, 05 February 2015 12:10
Local politicians are backing plans for a 2 percent increase to water rates in Greater Vernon this year. The Greater Vernon Advisory Committee passed that motion this morning as part of a 15 million dollar operating budget for the water utility. The motion still has to be approved by the Regional District of North Okanagan board. Opposition came from director Bob Spiers who argued for a zero percent increase, and from BX Silver Star's Mike Macnabb who wanted 4 percent to allow more funds to go into reserves. "We never know when there will be a burst pipe," said Macnabb. "(Four percent) is a very good compromise. It protects us in case of a major main break." Spiers says a four percent hike, which staff were recommending, would have raised an extra $940,000, $736,000 of which would have gone to reserves. "The reserves now have 14 to 15 million dollars. There's enough money in there. Let's step back this year and look at the whole situation," says Spiers. Director Doug Dirk lead the motion for the 2 percent hike. "Two percent is the status quo. We don't want to defer increases for the future. Water is not going to get any cheaper," said Dirk, a Coldstream councillor. Director Gyula Kiss wasn't at the meeting, but told staff he was voting against the budget, and wants a moratorium on budget items that were part of the failed November referendum until the future of the master water plan is discussed. Several members of the group Citizens for Change attended the meeting, including chair Terry Mooney. "We were hoping for a special meeting with the GVAC. That didn't happen today. We we're hoping for a moratorium on costing. That didn't happen today, but there is movement in the direction we had hoped for and that is that the public is now more aware of the mechanics of how this plan has been put together and what options we may have for the future," Mooney told the media.