The Armstrong-Spallumcheen Parks and Recreation Commission plans to run with its reduced budget.
The commission had originally submitted a budget of more than $1.1 million for the communities of Armstrong and Spallumcheen to split. That was up from a $793,000 budget in 2010.
When both councils informed parks and recreation they couldn’t work with that number, the two sides submitted budget dollars they were comfortable with, the number totalling near $965,000.
“We got $520,000 from Spallumcheen and $440,000 from Armstrong and we’ll run with it,” said Spallumcheen Coun. Dave Brew, chairperson of the commission.
Originally Spallumcheen was eyeing a three per cent tax increase, but has now bumped that number up to five per cent.
In Armstrong, the proposed tax increase is three per cent which was given three readings at last week’s regular council meeting.
Armstrong Mayor Chris Pieper said the budget was a tremendous increase over last year, but noted there is some maintenance catch-up work needed in facilities following recent major projects like the water park which put maintenance on hold.
Brew said there will be trims, but no parks and recreation services will be cut.
“We’re quite comfortable with the budget, really,” he said.
