North Island Gazette, February 05, 2015

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Gazette NORTH ISLAND

Publications Mail Agreement No. 391275

50th Year No. 6

February 5, 2015

• CENOTAPH

Cenotaph project put on hold pending federal budget. Page 3

•COLLABORATION

Port McNeill clinic adds collaborative to its name. Page 5

• THE WINNER IS...

The Tri Port Dragon Boat Society took to the waters Saturday. Page 10 OPINION Page 4 VALENTINE’S DAY Page 7-9 SPORTS Pages 10-12 CLASSIFIEDS Page 13-15

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Wind, hydro boost budget

J.R. Rardon Black Press PORT McNEILL—The Regional District of Mount Waddington budget will see an uptick of 2.41 per cent in 2015 over 2014 levels, but residential ratepayers are more likely to see a reduction than an increase in their individual tax bills. The RDMW board of directors approved first reading of the fiveyear financial plan bylaw for 2015 during their regular meeting Jan. 20. The modest increase in the $4.5 million budget is more than offset by tax revenue from two major renewable energy projects constructed in the past two years. The Cape Scott Wind Farm, located within the Regional District’s Area B, and the Kokish Run-ofRiver hydro project, located in Area D, are now online and paying tax assessments that provide benefit across the region. “This shows there is a benefit enjoyed by those who are not getting direct assistance, i.e., Area B and D,” treasurer Joe Mackenzie told the board. “Each of the jurisdictions’ taxation between 2013 and 2015 has dropped.” Mackenzie described the regional district’s tax system as holding a constant dollar value, then adjusting the mill rate to reflect that total. When one class of ratepayer puts in more — in this case, utilities — the other classes see a reduction in their own burden. “We have a fairly constant regional tax requisition, that can be likened to a pie,” Mackenzie said. “If some of the clients are paying more, then others pay less.”

Kathy O’Reilly-Taylor Photo Kelly Jones, sporting a Superman bra, struts his stuff to Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars at the 4th Annual Victor’s Secret Pageant at the Port McNeill Community Hall Saturday evening. Tickets for the wildly popular breast cancer fund-raising event, featuring Bras for a Cause undergarments, sold out in four hours. See next week’s Gazette for full story.

See page 2 ‘Renewables’

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