1
$
Thursday, March 27, 2014
The Agassiz Y Harrison
Freddy & Linda Marks
Your local
REAL ESTATE AGENTS for
&
Harrison rris rrrison ris i on Hot H t Spri S Spr Springs! pri
Sutton S tt West W t Coast C t Realty R lt
NOTARIES PUBLIC
TheBestDealsinBC.com
604.796.2925
Real Estate Transfers
604-491-1060
office: 604.796.4300
ahobserver.com
|
classifieds: 604.796.4300
|
newsline: 604.796.4302
Derby demolition
GORY FINAL SCENES Wayward Pines to Älm last episode next week
4
JENNA HAUCK / BLACK PRESS
Harrison Hot Springs’ Drop Dead Red (aka Stefaney Pacey), of the Mainland Misfits Roller Derby league team the Anarchy Angels, pushes her way through two Okanagan Shuswap Roller Derby Association All-Stars to try and score points during a roller derby game at Chilliwack Heritage Park on Saturday. The Misfits – made up of skaters from throughout the Fraser Valley – won the game 361-45.
ADVENTURE ACROSS B.C. Two men take on all ski hills in one season
15
INSIDE
Tax increase proposed to cover rising policing costs New gym not a big hit for Kent taxpayers, financial director says
opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Jessica Peters
mailbag . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
This year's budget was presented to Kent council on Monday night, and it shows a tax increase of 3.25 per cent. The addition of a new police officer accounts for at least part of the increase, bringing the local force from five officers to six. The District is budgeting $1,046,235 for policing, a $210,200 increase from last year's
community . . . . . . . . 11 sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 health . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 classiÄeds . . . . . . . . . 18
THE OBSERVER
budget. Of that increase, about half is to cover the municipal portion for the additional police officer. In total, policing is responsible for a 3.75 per cent increase to taxes. However, that percentage is lowered slightly, by .5 per cent, through a drop in operating and capital expenses, bringing the total tax increase to 3.25 per cent. While the budget presentation was made this week, council will now
2013
Business Excellence Winner 7046 Pioneer Avenue • 604 491-1070 • www.remedys.ca
have three readings of the financial bylaw, and three readings of the tax rate bylaw. Judy Lewis, director of financial services, said they're hoping to adopt the budget at the Apr. 28 council meeting. "Basically it's all RCMP costs because in other parts of the budget we were able to save," Mayor John Van Laerhoven said. He said despite the rising costs of the RCMP, the community is getting
Align Probiotic Capsules (28’S)
24
99 each
each
good value from its local police force. "We really value what the police do here for us," he said. The budget also shows a few ways the District has saved a bit of money. Debt servicing for the library building has been paid off now, and the costs of administration for the regional library system went down thanks to a realignment of what FVRL communities pay. Continued on 3
Ensure (6X235ml)
8
99
each
Tylenol Arthritis Pain Caplets (170’S)
1399 each