The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen is considering a second referendum to purchase and upgrade a second set of private utilities for a combined $20.5 million.
The RDOS's board of directors will be asked on Thursday, Nov. 7 whether to send a request to borrow up to $20.5 million for the necessary upgrades to the Vintage Views Wastewater and Lakeshore Waterworks that service the Heritage Hills neighbourhood on the east side of Skaha Lake.
If the board approves the request, it will be sent to the Inspector of Municipalities for review and a decision.
If the Inspector approves the borrowing, the RDOS will hold the referendum on April 12, 2025 for the residents who use the two utility systems.
Residents on the systems will then be presented with two separate questions on the referendum, one for residents on the Vintage Views Wastewater system and one for residents on the Lakeshore Waterworks system, as each system has a different number of users.
The sewer system will need $7 million in upgrades, while the water system needs $13.5 million.
The cost for borrowing would be spread out over 111 lots for the sewer system, and 332 lots for the water system.
RDOS staff estimate the annual parcel tax for the Vintage Views Wastewater system will be approximately $4,308.30 annually over 30 years, and $2,869.17 annually over 30 years for the Lakeshore Waterworks system.
The borrowing is the maximum possible amount that assumes the RDOS is unable to get any grant funding for the necessary upgrades.
The two Skaha utilities have been in the process of being taken over since 2022, when the owner approached the RDOS.
Multiple upgrades are required to bring the systems up to acceptable standards. The Ministry of Environment has issued multiple fines in the past over the sewer system's failures, and the RDOS has not been issuing development permits for empty lots in the neighbourhood serviced by the systems.
The April 12 proposed referendum is also the currently planned date for a referendum for West Bench residents who use the Sage Mesa private water utility, which would need up to $33 million in upgrades.
