The Town of Osoyoos has started the 2025 budget process with the proposed increases for the water, sewer and landfill utilities.
Water user fees are currently proposed to increase by 9.65 per cent, sewer user fees by 6.63 per cent and garbage/recycling fees by three per cent.
Landfill fees are also set to rise, with minimum tipping fees increasing from $6.50 to $10 for yard and waste and general garbage, mattress and box-springs increasing from $15 to $17.50 and garbage tags going from $3 a tag to $4.
Half of the water increase is going to increased operating costs, while the other half is going into the water sustainability fund.
The water treatment plant costs, which have grown to over $80.4 million per the last estimate provided to the town's council, are not part of the calculations for the utility rate increase.
The draft budgets will be presented to council for information on Nov. 12, with an open house at the Sonora Centre scheduled on No. 15.
On Nov. 21 and 22, council will further review the utility budgets and provide input and potentially the first three readings for the bylaws.
The general budget for the town will follow, with the draft published on Nov. 29 and presented to council on Dec. 10.
