#taxpayers
City Taking On $7M+ Sewer Risk
Major Financial Decision Alert 🚨 Council just committed taxpayers to cover ALL cost overruns on a massive sewer replacement project. The city is applying for a $7 million grant but promising to pay ANY amount above that from your tax dollars.
🚰 Wagon Road Sanitary Sewer Replacement Project needs to be completed
📋 Required to meet grant application criteria - city must guarantee project completion
💰 City applying for $7 million from 2025 Strategic Priorities Fund Program
🔧 Project involves replacing existing sanitary sewer infrastructure
⚠️ Grant application requires city commitment to cover all aspects of project completion
💵 Applying for $7 million from Strategic Priorities Fund Program
📋 City commits to overall grant management of the entire project
⚠️ City responsible for supporting any cost overruns of the proposed project
🔒 Amendment required to meet grant application criteria
🏢 Motion passed to include city's willingness to cover overruns
Are you comfortable with unlimited spending commitments?
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Motion passed October 6, 2025 ✅ Grant application will now be submitted with city's financial guarantees. Contact council members to share thoughts on future infrastructure spending policies.
🏛️ Your Tax Dollars: What Should Rossland Fund?
Council is reviewing the 2026-2030 budget plan that will shape city services and your property taxes for the next five years. Big decisions ahead on recreation programs, environmental initiatives, communications, and community grants.
📊 Five-year financial plan sets spending priorities through 2030
🏡 Property tax revenue allocation decisions affect all residents
🎯 Staff presented budget preview to guide Council direction
💬 Community feedback will shape final budget decisions
⚖️ Balance between service levels and taxpayer costs
💼 New part-time communications position to improve city information
🎨 Recreation instructor role to expand programming (user-fee funded)
🌱 Additional funding for Spring Clean Up and Fire Smart Bin Programs
🤝 Maintain 5% property tax allocation for community group grants
Council requested a World Cafe style public engagement session on October 27, 2025, from 6:00-8:00 PM at Miners Hall. This informal format lets residents discuss budget priorities directly with Council and staff.
Next Steps: Council discusses budget preview at October 20, 2025 meeting. Public engagement session October 27, 6-8 PM at Miners Hall. Final budget decisions coming in future Council meetings. Attend meetings or contact Council with your budget priorities.
Should taxpayers subsidize private work? 🏛️
City Council is reviewing a policy change that could better protect your tax dollars from subsidizing work done for private companies and external agencies. 💰
The current policy has gaps that sometimes leave taxpayers covering cost overruns when the city provides services to outside parties. Council will decide whether to strengthen cost recovery requirements.
💸 Current policy doesn't bill for cost overruns when actual work exceeds quoted amounts
🏢 Private property owners and agencies can get city services below actual cost
🏘️ Rossland taxpayers end up subsidizing work for external parties
⚠️ Staff report describes current revenue recovery as "marginal at best"
📋 Policy covers everything from materials to equipment rentals to labor
✅ Bill third parties for any cost differences when actual work exceeds quotes
📊 Ensure 100% cost recovery of all direct and indirect city expenses
💵 Include $25 administration fee per work order
🚚 Equipment charged at provincial blue book rates plus overhead
📅 Interest charges on overdue invoices, can be added to property taxes
Do you support strengthening the policy to ensure third parties pay the full cost of city services, even if it means higher bills for private property owners requesting city work?
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What's Next: Council will vote on this policy amendment at their upcoming meeting. 🗳️
Your Voice Matters: Attend the council meeting or submit written feedback to share your thoughts on protecting taxpayer dollars vs. keeping city services accessible to external parties.
$117,750 for Waste Plan Update?
🗳️ Big Decision Alert: RDKB Board is spending $117,750 of taxpayer money to hire consultants for updating our 20-year-old solid waste management plan.
💰 What you're paying for: Complete overhaul of how we handle garbage, recycling, and organic waste across all 8 municipalities and 5 rural areas.
📅 Happening: August 27th Board meeting - this affects all 33,000 residents!
📋 What it is: Legal blueprint for handling ALL waste in RDKB - from your household garbage to business recycling
⏰ Why now: Current plan from 2005 is 20 years old - BC government recommends updates every 10 years
🎯 The goal: Meet provincial targets of 350kg waste per person annually by 2020 (we're currently at 520kg)
🌱 New focus: Zero waste approaches, circular economy, and keeping organics out of landfills
⚖️ Legal requirement: Provincial Environmental Management Act mandates these plans for all regional districts
🏢 Who's hired: Sperling Hansen Associates Inc. - specialized waste management consultants
💵 Total cost: Maximum $117,750 plus taxes (your tax dollars at work)
📅 Timeline: 18-24 months to complete the entire update process
🗣️ Your voice: Extensive public consultation through surveys, meetings, and online platforms
📈 Deliverables: New 10-year waste strategy, cost analysis, and implementation roadmap
What's most important to you in our regional waste plan: Lower costs for residents, better recycling programs, keeping organics out of landfills, or improved rural waste services?
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📅 Board Decision: August 27, 2025 meeting
🗣️ Get involved: Public consultation starts early August with surveys and meetings through RDKB's "Join the Conversation" platform
🏠 You're affected if you live in: Trail, Grand Forks, Rossland, Warfield, Montrose, Fruitvale, Midway, Greenwood, or any electoral area
ℹ️ Contact: 250-512-3963 or rdkb.com