Proposed tax increase reduced

City Council reduced the proposed tax rate increase from 5 to 4% with 3 months still to go before the final tax rate is adopted.

Council achieved this by moving funds from last years surplus to cover the city’s portion of the Quay-to-Quay pathway project cost of $200,000.

Mayor Sharie Minions said there could be more changes to the budget after next week’s public meeting.

“We have a really important budget meeting next week – the e-town hall,” she said. “This is an opportunity for members of the public to give us input on where they feel we’re at and what priorities we may be missing or needing to adjust, so really excited about that opportunity and following that, there could be more changes to the budget.”

Director of Finance Andrew McGifford said, while the final figures from 2021 are still to be finalized, he predicts the unallocated surplus will be between 500 and 750-thousand dollars.

The e-town hall meeting takes place Monday March 7th at 7pm.