NO LONGER ANY DOUBT
LEST WE FORGET
Council officially ends observatory project
Remembrance Day ceremonies set
PAGE 3
STONE SOUP FUNDRAISER PAGE 15-18
Group’s goal is to battle homelessnes
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2012
CCNA
85¢+ GST
Friday, November 6, 2015
SERVING MISSION SINCE 1908
Council eyes 1.68 per cent tax increase
CLASSIC EAST COAST CELTIC REVIVAL
Sewer rates to rise four per cent, water up one per cent Kevin Mills Mission Record
A municipal tax hike of less than two per cent has been proposed for Mission in 2016. Kerri Onken, deputy treasurer collector for the district, made the 2016 financial plan presentation to council during Monday night’s public meeting. She revealed that council is considering a 1.68 per cent municipal tax increase, which equals $488,967 in new revenue, along with a one per cent increase in water user rates and four per cent increase in sewer user rates. That equates to an approximate increase of about $50 a year for the average Mission homeowner – based on a home value of $390,000 – although several factors could change that figure depending on new assessment values and other levies, including school board, library, Fraser Valley regional hospital and other yearly charges that have yet to be finalized. Council will now seek public input on the proposed increases in hopes of approving the budget sometime in December. The 2016 financial plan includes consolidated operating budgets totaling $65.2 million and capital budgets totaling $10.85 million. The 1.68 per cent tax increase is proposed to: ❑ Increase the transfer, by $290,000, to capital reserves, to help fund future projects; ❑ Fund one new RCMP officer; ❑ Cover contractual increases: “Building up the district reserves will provide flexibility and will allow the district to fund capital projects internally and avoid future external borrowing and related interest charges,” explained Onken. The proposed 2016 budget allows for $11.74 million to be transfered to reserves. Onken said that will help the district continue its “pay as you go” philosophy on capital projects. Continued on A5
The Sky Family brought their Celtic Revival show to Mission’s Cedar Valley Mennonite Church on Tuesday night. The evening was filled with classic East Coast fiddle and guitar music, interspersed with Celtic dancing and testaments of praise. BOB FRIESEN PHOTO
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