100 Mile House Free Press, February 06, 2013

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CelebraTing b.C. Family day a20-25

February 6, 2013

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INSIDE

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CRD budget reveals drop in taxes

Two sections, 48 pages

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Fun Canadian TranSporTaTion

Staff credits library debt repayments

Assessment Authority. “It does play a role in what portion of taxes that you The Cariboo Regional pay.... We just wanted you District’s (CRD) public to be aware that not everyconsultation meeting at thing you pay comes to the Creekside Seniors Activity [CRD],” said Bell. Centre on Jan. 30 revealed “Certainly, a significant its preliminary budget and portion goes to the provinexpected impacts on taxa- cial government in the form tion. of school taxes, to pay for Only four residents turned police financing and rural out to hear about the tax to the province budget and make [toward road maincomments. tenance].” The regionShe explained al district’s chief CRD taxes pay for administrative offiCRD-provided and cer Janis Bell and regional-hospit al chief financial offiservices. cer Scott Reid made Al richmond Then, Reid delivthe formal presentaered the good news tions, supported by board that CRD taxes are going chair Al Richmond. down. CRD Area L Director He said the current operBruce Rattray, Area G ating surplus of $8.5 million Director Margo Wagner is essentially the same as last and 100 Mile House Mayor year, but the tax requisition Mitch Campsall also gave portion of the budget had explanations as the meeting dropped to $21.2 million. progressed. This is a decrease of 1.2 per Bell began by talking cent from 2012’s taxes – an about the portion of tax- improvement over the zeroation related to the value increase target set last fall. assigned to properties by BC Continued on A3 Carole rooney Free Press

Arlene Jongbloets photo

English as a Second Language (ESL) program learner Rose Christow strapped on a pair of snowshoes recently and soaked up a little bit of winter-time Canadian culture. Snowshoe instructor Susan Kruse led a group of 18 local ESL members on a walk in the snow behind the Lumberman’s Park ball diamonds, and afterwards, learners and tutors enjoyed a campfire and hotdog roast together.

Chamber director’s comments dismissed Carole rooney Free Press

A Jan. 21 CBC radio interview with South Cariboo Chamber of Commerce (SCCC) director Maureen Pinkney is being challenged as being inaccurate by the Cariboo Regional District (CRD). The interview reported a move was underway to amalgamate the District of 100 Mile House with outlying areas of the South Cariboo. During the CRD’s Jan. 30 budget consultation meeting in 100 Mile House, board chair Al

Radio report, ministry letter lead to public facts dispute Richmond detailed why the directors said that information is incorrect. “There was a report on CBC about looking into a new governance structure for the South Cariboo. “The [SCCC] brought forward early last year some interest in forming a regional municipality, and then subsequently later they changed their mind, to ‘perhaps we should form another regional district for the south’.”

Said Richmond: “[This was] largely driven initially by some of the corporate feelings of the commercial taxpayers in 100 Mile [who live in the CRD], that they want to be able to vote for council, and are unable to by provincial legislation.” He displayed a Dec. 4 letter addressed to Pinkney by Julian Paine, Assistant Deputy Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development (CSCD), and copied to the CRD. In the CBC interview, which can be heard online at www.cbc.ca/bc, Pinkney said the SCCC was in recent contact with CSCD Minister Bill Bennett Continued on A4


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