Kimberley Daily Bulletin, May 02, 2013

Page 1

Election

First Saturday

Three of the four vying for MLA debated Tuesday.

The Dynamiters Bull-A-Rama anchors a day of First Saturday activities.

See LOCAL NEWS page 3

See FIRST SATURDAY page 12, 13

candidate debate

ThursDAY May 2, 2013

Kimberley goes country

The Bulletin

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`Carolyn Grant photo

It’s that time again, Kimberley. Tickets for the Food Bank’s annual Duck Race, sponsored by Royal LePage East Kootenay Realty, are now on sale at businesses all over town — look for a duck in the window. Last year the race sold out, raising $15,641, so get your tickets early. Above, ticket sales were officially launched on Wednesday at the East Kootenay Realty office. Left to right are Wayne Sills, Property Manager, Kerry Penny, Property Management, Jodie Berand, office administration, Darren Close, realtor, Audrey Welk, barbecue manager and realtor, Shane Murray, realtor, Tanya Anderson, realtor, Marilyn Jolie, duck race organizer, realtor, Stan Salikin, Food Bank and ticket seller extraordinaire, Cath Oscarson, in charge of ticket sales, Vaughn Jarret, Mark Creek Market, who donates all hot dogs and pop for the barbecue, and Don McCormick, MC for the duck race.

City of Kimberley releases 2013 Financial Plan Residential taxes to rise four per cent; business three per cent C AROLYN GR ANT editor@dailybulletin.ca

The numbers have been crunched, scanned and crunched again and on Wednesday, the City’s Chief Financial Officer Holly Ronnquist made the 2013 Financial Plan available on the City’s website. In the past the financial plan was first presented at an open house but given poor attendance in the past several years, Council decided to

Step #1: Call Karrie and get your access code number. 250-426-5201 extension 208

release the documents online. The plan will be before Council next Monday, May 6 for the first three readings, with adoption following the week after. The number most taxpayers are looking for is what kind of property tax increases are on the horizon. For homeowners the answer is four per cent, with business taxes rising three per cent and light industrial three per cent as well, which brings light industrial into a one to one ration with residential taxes. Business taxes are 2.38 to 1 in 2013, a drop from last year’s ratio. There is no change in the flat tax

which remains at $736 for improved residential properties. There is also no change in the Aquatic Centre flat tax, which remains at $150 per parcel. There will be no increase in utility rates, but garbage rates are under review as there has been no change since 2000. The impact of the four per cent increase on an average priced home (average being $228,683) is $73. That brings the yearly cost of an average home, including millrate tax, frontage tax, parcel tax, flat tax and utility charges to $3,329, which

puts Kimberley just a bit above Cranbrook ($3,240). Property taxes account for $8,724,190 of the $26,489,880 in total revenue for the City in 2013. In terms of challenges for municipal funding, there are some new directions that will impact future City spending including Climate Change, GHG Reduction, Affordable Housing, Accessibility for Persons With Disabilities, Sustainable Communities, Forest Management and Wildlife Management. In addition, policing costs, already over nine per cent of the City’s operating budget are expected to

rise 28 per cent by 2017. The City has $9.22 million in capital expenditure planned for 2013. The list includes the Flume (dependant on obtaining grants), the Sunmine project, Blackbear bridge replacement, a grader and dump truck, Morrison Sub culvert/ Waldie Rd repair/paving, Marysville ice plant upgrade (to be determined), Aquatic Centre UV water treatmen, Paving/repairs to Gerry Sorenson Way, Rotary Drive, Knighton Road, Levirs Ave, Electronic Council (hardware/software) and ongoing waterline and sewer work.

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