The Hope
Standard Office: 604.869.2421 www.hopestandard.com
THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014
news@hopestandard.com
2013 BCYCNA
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HOCKEY GAME RAISES CANCER FUNDS
Local firefighters and RCMP officers face off at Hope Arena March 15
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DFO PROJECTS BIG SOCKEYE RUN
Fishermen buzzing over estimates of up to 73 million salmon
Dance education 15
TEAM FIT GETTING READY FOR SUN RUN Local group prepares for annual Vancouver event with zombi-themed run
INSIDE Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Community . . . . . 13 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Classifieds . . . . . 17 $
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BARRY STEWART / THE STANDARD
The Little Pear Garden Collective company stopped by Coquihalla Elementary School for a special performance last week to teach students about Chinese dance aesthetics. The group from Toronto, which specializes in Chinese traditional and contemporary dance, travels throughout Canada for annual performances, educational tours and commercial engagements. After performing several dances, students were able to try some of the moves that were exhibited. The Little Pear Garden Collective is supported through the Canadian Council for Performing Arts, The Ontario Arts Council and the Toronto Arts Council.
Hope proposes 2.2 per cent tax hike Kerrie-Ann Schoenit Hope Standard
Hope residents can expect a 2.2 per cent municipal tax increase this year if the proposed 2014 budget is approved. More than 35 residents packed into council chambers last Wednesday to get their first look at the draft 2014-2018 financial plan. The district’s property tax revenue would increase $153,000 this year to $7.1 million, contributing to an overall operating revenue of $10 million.
“This (general increase) is in line with many other jurisdictions who are also trying to keep tax increases checked while addressing operations and capital project demands,” said chief administrative officer John Fortoloczky. “What this means is a slight increase to the average homeowner/business owner. However, it’s difficult to say exactly how much more they will be paying as it all depends on changes to the assessed value of their property/ businesses for 2014 as determined by the BC Assessment Authority.”
The district not only faced rising costs for operations this year, but inflation to approved capital projects and wage increases mandated by the collective agreement. Addressing aging infrastructure needs in the community, such as repairs to roads and sidewalks, is also an ongoing challenge. “This infrastructure deficit challenge is a well-known issue and common to all municipalities,” said Fortoloczky. “It affects smaller municipalities like ours harder than larger more
dense municipalities who have greater potential to raise revenues and buffer rate increases.” In order to balance the proposed budget this year, the district made cutbacks in landfill operations and reduced the size of the public works staff by one. Fortoloczky said staff also went through a line-by-line review of department operational budgets and “took some risk in areas we thought were acceptable through incremental cuts.” Continued on 3
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