Spallumcheen residents will face a small tax increase this year.
Council was presented with the first draft of the proposed 2016 budget which includes a 2.5 per cent tax increase.
“That’s for the municipal portion of taxes only, that we collect,” said township chief financial officer Amy Vienneau.
“We collect 61 per cent for municipal purposes and 39 per cent we collect for other government bodies (regional hospital district, Regional District of North Okanagan, school tax, library, municipal finance authority and BC Assessment).”
The 2.5 per cent tax proposal would bring in $82,802, which increases the proposed revenue to nearly $4.8 million for general ($4,283,188) and policing ($435,406).
“This is a property taxation increase of $54.64 based on the average assessed single family residence of $253,729.
The budget draft also includes $1,154,478 for Spallumcheen’s share of the Armstrong Spallumcheen Fire Hall expansion, $915,000 for capital road projects, $300,000 for a new plow/gravel truck and $13,000 for upgrades to the municipal office.
Council will also consider nearly $23,000 in grants-in-aid requests to local organizations including Hullcar and Deep Creek Hall Society ($9,277), O’Keefe Ranch ($3,000), Caravan Farm Theater ($2,500), Armstrong Spallumcheen Museum and Arts Society, Armstrong Spallumcheen Trails Society ($2,000 each) and requests ranging from $500 to $1,000 for the Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce, fire department, Medical Equipment Loan Cupboard, Great Pumpkin Run and Walk and North Okanagan Minor Hockey.
The chamber and museum have also requested fees for service in the amounts of $8,500 (chamber) and $9,750 (museum). Council has also asked that three-year terms be prepared for both fees for service providers.
Council will also consider giving themselves a pay raise that would put them in line with similar-sized municipalities. The mayor’s stipend would go from $19,369 to $24,812 while councillor’s pay would rise to $13,506 from $9,685.
The complete draft can be found on the township’s website, spallumcheentwp.bc.ca.
“At any time, the public can offer or give comments,” said Vienneau.
Council will be presented with a second draft of the proposed budget at its committee of the whole meeting Monday, March 14.
Three readings of the proposed final bylaw will be read April 18 with adoption slated for May 2.