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MERRITT HERALD THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012 • MERRITT NEWSPAPERS
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TAKING A STAND FOR EDUCATION A group of teachers at Coquihalla Middle School hold up picket signs on Tuesday. Teachers throughout the Nicola Valley joined with other members of the B.C. Teachers’ Federation across the province in a three-day strike, Monday through Wednesday in protest of Bill 22 “The Education Improvement Act,” which teachers feel will impact classrooms and make class size and composition worse. For more info on the teachers’ strike, visit www.merrittherald.com. Jade Swartzberg/Herald
City plans to increase tax rate two per cent this year By Jade Swartzberg
have to do these big jumps like we have in the past,” said Roline. “And the public will still see significant improvements in the community with the funds.” Council began reviewing the budget draft in January with presentations from each department in the city and Roline says council is in the final stages of the process. Once council approves the five-year financial plan, the budget will proceed to a public consultation on April
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As Merritt’s council and administration put the finishing touches on the 2012 budget, taxpayers can expect the tax rate to rise by approximately two per cent. Mayor Susan Roline says this amount will keep up with inflation and allow the city to put money in reserve for future capital projects. “We feel if we can sort of keep it constant then we don’t
3, where taxpayers will get an outline of the budget and have the opportunity to ask questions. After public consultation, council will be able to move forward with adopting the financial plan and tax bylaw. During budget discussions, councillors considered the possibility of not increasing the tax rate this year, but Roline says the majority of council is comfortable with the two per cent increase. “You don’t want to be
where you have a zero increase,” said Pat Sibilleau, financial services manager during budget deliberations. “That will come back to haunt you later.” Chief Administrative Officer Matt Noble agreed explaining that Merritt does not have significant reserves if something were to come up during the year. “Even though it looks healthy, there’s not a lot to throw around as we go down the road,” he said.
Roline said council is hoping to boost the capital reserves anticipating projects that may come up in the next year or two. “We have several reports coming in to council and we know there will be some projects we will have to do and we don’t want to play catch up,” she said. In 2010 council approved a water study and a sewer study that will provide the city with an assessment of current infrastructure. The next year,
council approved a storm water management study and a study of the traffic movement at the corner of Voght Street and Nicola Avenue. With the reports expected shortly, Roline says council will need money from the capital reserves to fund the improvement projects. Besides the tax rate increase, Roline said the BC Assessment figures were slightly higher this year, which will also bring the city more income.
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