The Summerland Chamber of Commerce’s budget for 2017 calls for an increase of $24,000 or seven per cent from last year.
The budget, presented to chamber members at the annual general meeting on March 30, calls for a total of $356,675 for the coming year, up from $332,690 last year.
The $225,000 municipal contract remains unchanged, as does the $12,500 in provincial grant funding.
However, last year’s HRDC grant of $4,180 has been lost.
Sales and function revenues are expected to rise by 39 per cent, from $72,259 to $100,175.
Other chamber revenue comes from rental income and the telephone directory.
The biggest changes in the budget are in the events, advertising and promotion and repairs and maintenance categories.
The events category shows a 12 per cent drop, from $44,480 to $39,700.
Repairs and maintenance expenses are expected to decrease by 62 per cent, from $11,960 to $7,400.
Advertising and promotion costs are forecast to increase from $32,867 to $61,365, for an increase of 46 per cent.
Christine Petkau, executive director of the chamber, said this increase comes because the chamber has a number of significant projects planned for the coming year.
Wages and benefits, the biggest category in the budget, will not change. The amount spent on wages and benefits is budgeted at $201,588 for this year.