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Coldstream considers tax hike

1.75 per cent tax hike looke at, as well as trail plans for a new piece of property and educating residents on mandatory sewer hookup
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Coldstream is eyeing a 1.75 per cent tax hike in 2017, as well as trail plans for a new piece of property and educating residents on mandatory sewer hookup.

Increased operational costs make up the majority of the proposed tax hike (1.25 per cent), which the district’s finance committee reviewed Monday.

“It’s not set in stone,” said Trevor Seibel, Coldstream’s chief administrative officer.

The remaining half a per cent is for infrastructure capital.

“A primary part of that is parks as we’re starting to deal with an asset investment plan,” said Seibel, following Coldstream’s acquisition of its own park land.

Coldstream is on stream with educating residents on sewer hookups.

“We’re moving forward with the mandatory connection process,” said Seibel, of properties that front existing sewer lines but have not yet hooked up.

Affected property owners will be sent some educational material via mail and a workshop for residents is being planned for late January.

Coldstream also approved borrowing $250,000 towards the purchase of the two-acre parcel of land at 16506 Kalamalka Road. Coldstream has already budgeted for the remainder of the $500,000 price tag and hopes to officially acquire the property soon.

“Ideally if we can get it done before Christmas would be great,” said Seibel, noting that some matters are out of the district’s hands.

In the meantime, and near future, staff is looking at trail plans for the property in order to connect to the City of Vernon’s trail at the Coldstream boundary and over to College Way.

Other plans in Coldstream’s works involve the Women’s Institute Hall.

“They want to see some conceptual ideas and process for how we would go about planning for replacement,” said Seibel.

 



Jennifer Smith

About the Author: Jennifer Smith

Vernon has always been my home, and I've been working at The Morning Star since 2004.
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