Water board tax hike may be avoided
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The provisional budget approved by members of the Okanagan Basin Water Board at this week’s meeting shouldn’t result in any tax increases, but it does reflect a budget increase of 3.8 per cent over last year.
Executive director Anna Warwick Sears explained the increase is due to increased costs of the sewage facilities grant program, including system extensions in the West Kelowna area.
As well, she said the OBWB budget of $3.55 million will include continuing its $300,000 grant program as well as programs supporting drought planning and water conservation.
The OBWB delivers three main services throughout the valley—a Eurasian Water Milfoil weed control program, the sewage facilities grants program and water management services, such as the water supply and demand study, development of the sustainable water strategy and water education. The water board is funded by requisitions from the three regional districts in the valley, and is made up of representatives from each of those regional district boards.
This budget will become part of the budget deliberations at each of those board tables during the year-end discussion.
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