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$1.1-million surplus eyed in Esquimalt municipal budget Township property owners face tax increase of 2.1% – first hike in 3 years Kevin Laird Victoria News
Kendra Wong/Victoria News
Fancy footwork Canadian Women’s National soccer team member Selenia Lacchelli uses some fancy footwork to muscle the ball past Janessa Shacter in a friendly game on the front lawn of the B.C. legislature Tuesday. Kids from Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities were joined by Emily Zurrer, also from the Canadian Women’s National soccer team and Community, Sport and Cultural Development Minister Coralee Oakes in the game in support of Jumpstart.
Being a homeowner in Esquimalt is about to get pricier. Township council is forecasting a tax increase of 2.15 per cent – the first increase in three years. Mayor Barb Desjardins said the township’s infrastructure, like most across the country, is aging and requires upgrading. “One thing we did this year is really listen to the taxpayers and they said, ‘we want you to fix some roads, we want you to fix some sidewalks.’ We allocated larger amounts to those two areas,” she said. With the increase, the township will top up its reserve funds and anticipates a $1.1 million budget surplus by the fiscal year end. Some money from the surplus will likely go to Admirals Road upgrades. Esquimalt receives more than 40 per cent of its municipal budget from the Department of National Defence through payment in-lieu of taxes. Most of the money comes in July and the second instalment in late fall.
“One thing we did this year is really listen to the taxpayers.” – Barb Desjardins Esquimalt mayor
PLEASE SEE: Tax increase, Page A4
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