Fee increase
qathet Regional District’s (qRD) finance committee is recommending a two per cent increase to the 2022 Myrtle Pond water use fee schedule.
At the October 20 finance committee meeting, directors recommended that the user fee schedule be incorporated into a user fee amendment bylaw to be presented to the October regional board meeting (October 28) for first two readings, and to the November meeting for third reading and adoption.
Sewer schedule
The finance committee is recommending the board approve a nine per cent increase to the Lund sewer user fee schedule.
The recommendation is that the schedule be incorporated into a user fee amendment bylaw to be presented for first two readings at the October meeting, and for third reading and adoption at the November meeting.
According to a staff report, the Lund sewer service is funded through parcel taxes and user fees. Parcel taxes are a fixed amount per property and the requisition limit is currently set at $52,500. The report states the majority of costs related to operating the Lund sewer system are fixed and there is a need to continue setting funds aside for infrastructure maintenance and renewal. A nine per cent increase to user fees is required to fund operations and the contribution to reserve as proposed in the 2022 provisional budget for the service, according to the report.
Cemetery bylaw
The regional board will consider changes to the fees and charges outlined in the cemetery regulation bylaw. First and second reading will take place at the October regional board meeting and the bylaw will come up for third reading and adoption at the November board meeting.
According to a staff report, qRD increases its cemetery fees annually to reflect operating cost increases and to reduce reliance on taxation for interment-related services.
Fees for services are calculated to cover costs for wages and benefits, use of equipment and an overhead charge for costs related to office operations, computer system and supervision, the report stated. Some fees also include an allowance for ongoing maintenance. Fees for goods cover qRD costs plus administration and overhead, according to the report.
