THURSDAY
BARNABY’S BACK
JANUARY 10, 2013
Former UFV basketball coach brings his Golden Bears to Abbotsford this weekend
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A FRESH PERSPECTIVE Elected just over a year ago, Henry Braun shares his observations of the city as one of two new faces on council Kevin MILLS Abbotsford News
I
t could be said that Henry Braun has an almost unique view on how the City of Abbotsford operates. The experienced businessman turned councillor has completed his first year in office. With the exception of Mayor Bruce Banman, Braun is the only new face at a council table filled with political veterans. Recently, he sat down with the Abbotsford News to talk about his experiences and to look at some of the issues facing the city. What’s the city’s number one issue? “The biggest issue I think we have in the city is where is our financial plan? The financial path that we are on is simply unsustainable. When you look at each of the master plans and you add it all up, we can’t afford it. We actually should be having tax increases of 10 per cent each year as far as I can see, in order to carry out those master plans.” “When the long-term financial plan eventually comes before council, I think it will show that the city is going to hit the financial wall by 2015 201 or 2016.” What long-term financial plan are you referring to? “KPMG is doing that for the city. It was started before I was on council. KPMG is looking at all of the things we have put in motion, all the projects examined in all the master plans. (Master plans examine long-term, usually 10-year, goals and projects in various areas including transportation, agriculture, water, parks and recreation and fire services.) “For (the KPMG report) to take over a year Continued on A4
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BORN IN SECONDS A5 Chelsea enters the world on New Year’s Day, in mere moments
ARTY AWARDS
A15 Abbotsford Arts Council seeking new nominations for recognition
FACEOFF INSIDE B1 Krys Kolanos’s resurgence is chronicled in our Abbotsford Heat magazine ■
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THOUGHT OF THE DAY
I started my 20 day diet on New Years! So far I have lost 10 days.