FRIDAY
LORD OF THE RINGS
NOVEMBER 6, 2015
Abbotsford baseball coach earns the sport’s biggest prize with Kansas City A23
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Tax increase of 2.57% planned by city Amount covers rising costs, police and library allocations Laura RODGERS Abbotsford News
Abbotsford taxes are set to rise by 2.57 per cent in 2016, with an increase of 1.59 per cent in general tax and an additional 0.87 per cent added for police services and 0.11 per cent for the Fraser Valley Regional Library. Water and sewer fees are staying put, though
tiered pricing for heavy users is being eliminated. The new budget plan would result in roughly $53 more in annual property taxes for an owner of a $406,000 single family residence, a reference value provided by the city. The increase is called for in response to rising contract costs, such as construction and main-
tenance, fuel and natural gas expenses, and a reduction in the amount of investment income. The plan will focus on early payout of water and sewer debt in 2016, toward an overall goal of reducing the city’s long-term debt load, which stands at about $70 million, the majority of which was borrowed to build the Abbotsford Continued on A4
Teen airlifted after skate park accident
REMEMBRANCE DAY OBSERVED A7 November 11 ceremony will be held at the Abbotsford cenotaph
CHALLENGES MUST BE MET A7 Mayor says laws must be upheld and defended, and to do so incurs legal costs
Vikki HOPES Abbotsford News
A 17-year-old boy remains in critical condition after being airlifted to hospital on Wednesday following an accident at the McMillan Skatepark in Abbotsford. A family friend told The News on Thursday afternoon, just before press deadline, that Justin Walsh was in an induced coma in the intensive care unit of Royal Columbian Hospital, and his prognosis was unclear. He has bleeding on the front left side of his brain, and his cheekbone is broken. Walsh suffered a serious head injury while riding his BMX bike at the park – located at the corner of Old Yale and McMillan roads – at about 5 p.m. Abbotsford Police Const. Ian MacDonald said the teen had attempted a jump, but went over the handlebars and crashed to
CONCERT FOR GRETA A11 Musical evening Nov. 7 will raise funds to support the family of girl battling cancer
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85¢ JOHN MORROW Abbotsford News
Continued on A4
A teenage boy was airlifted to hospital on Wednesday night after an accident in the McMillan Skatepark.
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