People in the Cowichan Valley Regional District with outstanding balances on any of their utility accounts from last year will now have to deal with the province.
The utilities include water, sewer and curbside-collection services.
Under the Local Government Act, the CVRD is required on each Dec. 31 to transfer to taxes any outstanding balances on utilities to the province.
The province, through the Surveyer of Taxes, bills these outstanding amounts to taxpayers, and the 2017 statements have recently been mailed.
The payments may be made online to the province, through a financial institution or at a local Service BC centre.
Daily interest is charged from Jan. 1 until the payment is made.
The CVRD has been unable to accept these payments after Dec. 31, 2016, when the outstanding balances are transferred to the province.