Proposed 2024 regional water rate increases from just under eight to near 14 per cent over current levels were supported by Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) directors at a Nov. 10 committee of the whole meeting. The group endorsed all recommendations as presented in the staff reports included on the meeting agenda.
Before the changes go for consideration of approval by the board on Dec. 14, public water rates information and engagement sessions will be hosted online. On Nov. 29 at 6 p.m., an online event will be directed towards the 11,800 water clients on the Chapman system, where a projected increase of 11.64 per cent over current rates is being proposed. The current parcel tax and user rates per single family residential dwelling are $392 and $651. Recommended for 2024 is a $63.51 increase to user fees and a $57.95 increase to parcel taxes, bringing the new total charge to $1,165. The total of those two charges in 2020 was $687.
The session focusing on the SCRD’s two Pender area systems is slated for Nov. 27 at 6 p.m. The proposed new year rate change for the 580 users of the North Pender system is the lowest at 7.79 per cent. That would take single family residential customer parcel taxes from $385 to $440 and user rates from $918 to $965. In 2020, those two charges totalled $743. The 1027 South Pender system customers are facing the highest recommended 2024 rate change over current levels of 13.83 per cent. The current parcel tax and user rates per single family residential dwelling are $431 and $762, respectively and the proposed 2024 rates would be $515 and $845. In 2020, the combined total for those charges was $877.
In a Nov. 9 SCRD press release, it was noted that more details on the information sessions and links to join the meetings will be posted to www.scrd.ca.
