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In 30 seconds
- Vernon should put $5.2 million a year into renewing its sewer system and puts in $2.6 million, a $2.6 million gap every year.
- Council backed a 3.5% sewer rate increase each year from January 1, 2027. For most households that is about $20 to $60 more a year.
- Septic and holding tank disposal fees also go up, which septic haulers and rural homeowners will notice.
| Figure | Value |
|---|---|
| sewer rate increase each year from 2027 | 3.5% |
| yearly gap in sewer renewal funding | $2.6M |
| most a typical household pays more per year (from $20) | $60 |
| years to close the gap at this rate | 10 |
Why rates are going up
Sewer pipes, pumps and the treatment and spray irrigation system wear out on a schedule whether or not they are budgeted for. Staff told council the system needs $5.2 million a year in renewal to stay in good repair, and the city puts in $2.6 million. The spray irrigation system, about 50 years old, is the asset most at risk.
| Per year | |
|---|---|
| Needed | $5,200,000 |
| Invested now | $2,600,000 |
City of Vernon staff report to council, November 10, 2026, as reported by the Vernon Morning Star and Castanet.
The choice council made
Staff offered two paths: 5.1 per cent a year for five years, or 3.5 per cent a year over ten. Council backed 3.5 per cent at third reading on November 10, with one councillor opposed. Final adoption comes at a later meeting. Rates are set five years at a time, so the 3.5 per cent covers 2027 to 2031, and staff expect the gap to close over the decade if it continues.
For a typical household the increase is about $20 to $60 a year; staff said only an outlier home would pay near the top of that range.
What it means for the trades
Two groups notice first. Septic haulers and rural homeowners pay more to dispose of septic and holding tank waste from January 1, 2027. And a funded renewal program means more pipe replacement and plant work for excavation, utility and mechanical contractors in the years ahead.
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How we did this
Figures are from the City of Vernon's staff report as reported by the Vernon Morning Star and Castanet. The two reports differ on the length of the increase: rates are set for five years, and the plan behind them runs ten. We report both.