A photo taken during a previous meeting. (File photo/battlefordsNOW)

By Kenneth Cheung

MEETING PREVIEW

Utility rate increases, new base tax before North Battleford council

Jan 12, 2026 | 11:58 AM

North Battleford city council will consider a series of bylaws Monday night that would raise utility rates in 2026 and introduce a new base tax to fund road and underground infrastructure work.

Among the items before council are proposed amendments to the city’s waterworks, sewerage, waste collection and recycling bylaws, all of which would take effect Jan. 1, 2026, if approved.

Council is also scheduled to vote on a bylaw that would establish a base tax for 2026 to fund the city’s Underground Pipe and Asphalt Replacement (UPAR) Program, which includes underground pipe replacement, asphalt work, sidewalk replacement and the connection of incomplete sidewalks.

Under the proposed UPAR bylaw, a base tax of $5.31 per frontage measurement would be levied on most developed properties. The tax would be calculated using either actual frontage or an equivalent frontage value for irregularly shaped lots.

Commercial and industrial properties would be assessed using actual frontage measurements, while condominium and multi-unit residential properties would have frontage divided by the number of units to determine individual frontage values. Residential acreage properties receiving minimal services would be assessed using a predetermined frontage measurement of 100 feet for the 2026 year.

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Properties classified as agricultural, non-agricultural and other vacant residential land would be exempt from the levy, along with properties exempt under The Cities Act and properties that have been subject to local improvement special assessments in 2011 or later. The bylaw specifies that revenue collected would be used solely to fund the UPAR program.

Council will also consider a bylaw amending residential waste and recycling rates. If approved, the monthly rate for regular residential household waste collection would be set at $12.64 per roll-out cart, while the monthly rate for residential recycling collection would be set at $7.95 per roll-out cart.

Proposed amendments to the sewage systems bylaw would revise flat-rate monthly sewer charges based on meter size for residential, commercial and industrial properties. The changes also include underground infrastructure charges and a volume-based rate of $1.71 per cubic metre, as well as updated miscellaneous service charges.

Changes to the waterworks systems bylaw would similarly revise flat-rate monthly water charges and underground infrastructure charges based on meter size. The proposed water bylaw would also set a volume rate of $2.00 per cubic metre and a bulk water rate of $7.30 per cubic metre, along with miscellaneous charges related to billing and meter services.

Council is also scheduled to consider a road closure bylaw that would authorize the closure of several undeveloped portions of Third Avenue, 106th Street and adjacent laneways. The closures would allow for the consolidation of those roadways with neighbouring lots, subject to existing access rights and with mineral rights reserved to the Crown.

The bylaws are scheduled to be considered through the standard three-reading process.

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Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com