Water Rates Highest in Okanagan

Posted on 2/5/2015 by Betty Selin AM 1150
A group of Greater Vernon residents is concerned about higher water rates. The Group, "Citizens for Change to the Master Water Plan" is concerned that the budget debate at GVAC will proceed to set water rates, before they have an opportunity to present their proposed new direction for the Master Water Plan. The group, which includes several former politicians, says they have joined together to assess the staff driven requests for higher water rates to fund the long term capital programs and to increase the reserves for future needs. The group says they want to ensure that the results of the No vote in the November 15 referendum, is upheld. They are in the process of preparing a presentation for the GVAC which will provide recommendations for needed changes to the Master Water plan. At the January 22nd meeting of the GVAC, there was no action taken on the request for a moratorium. The group is concerned politicians are prepared to consider "back-door" funding that will move RDNO pre-referendum programs forward by raising water rates to cover the costs of the expenditures, under the cover of 'reserves', and to date without public input. They're also worried the budget debate scheduled for Thursday morning will set water rates, before they have an opportunity to present the proposed new direction for the Master Water Plan. Water rates for the same amount of drinking water in 2014 show that Greater Vernon domestic water users pay $899.70, more than twice the Penticton rate of $427.62, and triple the $291.98 for the same amount of water from Kelowna bills. From 2010 to 2014 the cost of a cu. meter of drinking water has doubled for Greater Vernon water users. Changes to the billing structure mean that less of the water bill is from metered usage and more is coming from arbitrary fixed front end charges. Our citizen's group which includes, Janet Green, Wayne McGrath, Klaus Tribes and Maria Besso, is asking that all budget approvals supporting water rate increases be suspended until March 5th, or that a special meeting of the GVAC be held to allow elected representatives to be informed of the proposed new direction to the Master Water Plan from this community group.