Kimberley to offset rising inflation costs with proposed sewer utility fee increase

The City of Kimberley is looking to combat rising costs by upping sewer utility fees next year. 

At a Special Meeting held Monday, November 17, staff presented a number of deliberations on the 2026-2030 Budget Plan and reported that a five per cent annual increase to sewer and water fees would be needed to fund planned operating costs while adding roughly $838,000 in reserve contributions to the City.

“This is our investment contribution, it’s tax dollars going into reserves that are going to pay for the projects,” said Kimberley Mayor Don McCormick. 

“It does not take into account any grant money for infrastructure that may or may not be available at the time we have a particular project, I think it would be utopian to expect that our utility fees are going to cover the entire thing.”

Staff have been asked to present an updated bylaw at the next council meeting on Monday, November 24.

If approved, sewer rates would increase by $2.02 per month for a single-family home, while water bills would rise by $2.28 effective January 1, 2026.