The Town of Valleyview is updating water, wastewater, solid waste, and recycling rates to ensure services are financially sustainable and residents pay fairly for what they use. These changes are part of a move toward full cost recovery, meaning the cost of providing each service is covered by the users who consume it rather than being subsidized by property taxes.
Why This Matters
Currently, some users pay less than the actual cost of service, while others are subsidized through property taxes. Updating rates will:
- Maintain reliable services without relying on taxes.
- Encourage water conservation and responsible waste management.
- Ensure fairness, so high-use customers contribute proportionally.
What’s Changing
Water
- A tiered rate system is being introduced:
- Base fee: Covers a portion of the service cost.
- Variable rates: Increase with higher usage to promote conservation.
- Residential and small business users will see moderate increases; high-volume commercial users will see larger adjustments.
Sanitary Sewer
- Sewer charges will now reflect 40% of water usage (previously 46%).
- Minimum monthly rates remain unchanged.
Solid Waste
- Monthly rates for residents and commercial accounts increase by roughly $5 per month.
- An administrative fee of $2.33 per account will also be added to fully cover costs.
Recycling
- Residential rates increase by $5/month; commercial rates increase by $13/month.
Impact on Taxes
These changes are not intended to raise overall costs for residents:
- Utility increases are largely offset by reductions in property tax subsidies for these services.
- High-volume water users may notice a net increase because their previous rates were partially subsidized through taxes.
When Do Rates Take Effect?
- The new rates will be included in the Fees and Charges Bylaw.
- If approved, they will take effect January 1, 2026.
