PLAYOFF DEBUT The UFV men’s soccer team is celebrating its first-ever Canada West post-season berth A26
TUESDAY OCT. 29, 2013
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City aims for 0.4% tax hike
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SAYING GOODBYE
Proposed city budget will reduce general municipal taxes
A6 Abbotsford mourns the passing of Josh, a courageous local teen taken by cancer
Alex BUTLER Abbotsford News
Abbotsford taxpayers will see an overall municipal tax increase of less than half a per cent next year, if the proposed 2014 budget is approved. The city aims to decrease general municipal taxes by a third of a per cent, without cutting services. However, other increases such as requested policing and library funding hikes would result in the half per cent budget bump. City staff presented the proposed budget to council and the public last Thursday and Friday. City manager George Murray said, “everything you see today… will be driven by staff finding more efficient and more effective ways to deliver services.” The city is proposing a decrease in general municipal taxes by .29 per cent, while police have asked for an increase of .58 per cent and the regional library has asked for .15 per cent – generating a total municipal tax of .44 per cent. Tax hikes in Abbotsford have been decreasing since 2009. That year, taxpayers saw an increase of 5.50 per cent. In 2010 and 2011, taxes went up 4.50 and 4.30 per cent, including a one per cent capital levy. In 2012, the increase was 1.66 per cent, and this year, taxes went up by 1.28 per cent. The police department’s request for a .58 per cent increase would require the reduction of four police and one civilian through attrition. The department said a zero per cent increase would mean the reduction of eight police positions, one civilian position and other cuts.
APD RECEIVES MORE TIPS A4 Residents call in with information after recent rash of robberies
SCARY EVENTS A11 Abbotsford gears up for Halloween with a variety of activities Q
Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A9
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Q Viewpoint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A8 JASON ROESSLE Abbotsford News
Dominic Watson takes a close look at a duck perched calmly on the shore of Mill Lake last Wednesday morning. The region’s fall weather has been unusually warm and dry. So little rain has fallen that Abbotsford is on track for the fourth driest October on record since 1944. Abbotsford broke a record last week with eight days of consecutive fog, breaking the old mark of seven set in 1981.
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