Balfour residents are preparing to vote on whether or not nearly $600,000 should be borrowed to upgrade the community’s water system.
The Regional District of Central Kootenay board of directors are seeking approval to go forward following Monday’s voting deadline.
The total cost of the new system, which the RDCK took control of in January 2011, is $3,397,000. The Clean Water and Wastewater Fund grant will provide $2.8 million to the project, but the district still needs to borrow an additional $583,323.
Approval will mean a 30 per cent jump in water parcel tax for Balfour residents, as well as an annual two per cent rise in taxes for single dwelling homes through 2023.
The extensive project aims to replace the local reservoir, install universal metering, upgrade standby power, replace the upper zone pump station, extend the distribution system and looping, and provide hydrant infill.
The RDCK needs 33 of the 333 eligible voters to make their voices heard or the board goes ahead with the upgrades.
Voting forms are available at the RDCK’s headquarters in Nelson or online here.
Ymir, meanwhile, will also get $643,000 for a new water storage reservoir. The federal government is paying for $387,328, another $255,636 will come from the province and the RDCK will add $131,693.
A water reserve account will mean Ymir residents won’t pay increased rates, according to RDCK utilities manager Jason McDiarmid.
