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2012 West Bench water bills

Now that the West Bench water system is operated by the RDOS, the budget for the system must be included within the larger RDOS budget (even though the water system is a very specific service provided to, and paid for, by a small number of RDOS residents).  As a consequence, water rates are not finalized (and invoices cannot be sent out) until the budget is passed. The intent is to send out the West Bench water bills with the RDOS garbage/recycling bill in mid-May.

Since 2012 is the first full year in which the RDOS has been responsible for the West Bench system, RDOS finance and engineering staff relied heavily on past WBID budgets when developing the budget for 2012.  All we did was take the 2011 WBID budget and add a 2% inflation factor.  This may turn out to be too high or too low—we will not know until the end of our first full year of operations.  However, please keep in mind that budgets in regional districts are completely segregated.  Thus, if the RDOS collects a suplus from West Bench water customers in 2012, that money cannot leave the West Bench water account.  Rather, all surpluses and deficits must be carried forward to the following year. The overall 2012 RDOS budget can be found here (search to find account "3970").

Please note that there are several ways to pay RDOS bills (including West Bench water). Please see the RDOS payments page at http://www.rdos.bc.ca/index.php?id=48 for more information.

2011 West Bench water bills

I have received some questions about 2011 water bills from the RDOS.

Background: Recall that the RDOS took over the West Bench water system in 2011 from the West Bench Irrigation District (WBID), a completely separate form of government.  The WBID had bylaws regarding billing that had evolved over the years. Proir to disbanding, the WBID passed a budget for 2011 including a fee structure consistent with its bylaws.  The RDOS inherited the bylaws and the 2011 budget.

I asked Bill Newell, the RDOS Chief Administrative Officer, about the 2011 billing and late-fee invoices.  His reply follows:

 

Our Utilities Clerk advises that we just sent out 2011 Statements for the West Bench Water System.  They would have identified the amount WBID billed for the 2011 year.  If there is an amount showing for interest, it would have been the 10% penalty that WBID billed if invoices were not paid by April 30th, 2011.  RDOS downloaded the WBID Accounts from their Quick Books System, as is.  We haven’t added any amounts, nor have we determined the 2012 budget.  Should there be questions on the billing, that would be Finance and you could pass them along to Warren [Everton, the RDOS Chief Financial Officer: info@rdos.bc.ca].  As to who decides the 2012 Invoice, that will be the Board once they approve the 2012 Budget.

 

Please let me know if you have any questions.