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Summerland budget calls for tax increase

Proposed municipal budget includes four per cent tax hike
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Taxpayers in Summerland can expect an increase of four per cent when they receive their property tax bills this year.

David Svetlichny, director of finance, said a property tax increase of four per cent is being proposed for this year.

Of this amount, 1.8 per cent is for increasing reserve contributions for future capital projects and 2.2 per cent is for the operating fund shortfall.

For a typical home, assessed at $396,943, the increase is roughly $50.50, Svetlichny said.

At the municipal council meeting on Monday, Svetlichny presented the proposed budget.

For 2017, the municipality will spend close to $13 million in its general fund operating budget.

The budget, for $12,908,542, was presented at municipal council on Monday evening.

General government costs come to $1,504,067.

Protective services total $2,618,322.

Works costs are budgeted at $2,868,487.

Environmental health services are $1,412,338, while environmental development services are $967,020.

Public health and welfare services will cost $145,268.

Recreation and cultural services account for $2,647,687.

Debt charges come to $745,353.

The budget also includes a total of $272,370 in increases as the result of contractual increases.

These increases include $103,850 for RCMP contract costs, $30,890 for the garbage and landfill contract, $40,900 for the janitorial contract and $93,730 for union and exempt wage increases.

In addition, expenses for a fire inspector, a sustainability coordinator and the first year of fire training grounds are expected to add $95,780.

The total from all these expenses and increases is $368,150.

An open house on the municipal budget and the proposed 2017 to 2021 financial plan will be held on Monday, April 3 at the Arena Banquet Room. A presentation about the budget and plan will be at 6:30 p.m.



John Arendt

About the Author: John Arendt

John Arendt has worked as a journalist for more than 30 years. He has a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Journalism degree from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute.
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