The Village of Keremeos has brought on a new chief financial officer as it prepares for 2025's budget.
The draft budget was presented on Dec. 16, with two additional requests for partial FTE positions in the public works and administrative departments.
For 2025, the draft budget is calling for an eight per cent increase over 2024's $1,030,421 in taxes, or an increase of $82,000.
The village also collects user fees for various services, and both garbage fees and sewer fees are expected to increase in 2025.
The garbage fees are going up as a result of the new contract with Waste Connections Canada that the village shares with the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen.
The expected total increase in collected fees is $75,100, going from $101,250 in 2024's budget to $176,300 in 2025. For residents, this will mean a projected
increase to $224 from $130 for the year or from $11 to $19 per month.
Sewer fees are expected to rise five per cent, as they have not been increased since 2014 and are in the process of a more fulsome review for what they should be set at.
While not included in the draft budget, it was noted that the village needs to adjust its cemetery fees, as the cemetery is currently operating at a deficit of $10,000.
The village undertook a review of its finances in 2024 following several staffing changes.
On Jan. 6, the new chief financial officer, Zahara Kanji-Aquino, was officially appointed to the role.
A finalized budget will return before the council at a later date, and the public will have a chance to provide input on it before adoption.
Changes to the budget will likely include the incorporation of a 0.5 full-time equivalent position to assist the accounting clerk and take pressure off the community and corporate services coordinator at the village.
Also coming in the future will be the capital projects budget, which is separate from the operational budget and tax increase.
