PENINSULA
NEWS REVIEW Greenway
Grammy nominee Cuba in Sidney
Family Day Lego weekend
AUTOMOTIVE
Alex Cuba performs at the Mary Winspear Centre this Sunday evening, page 12
Family Day weekend events kicks off in Sidney on Saturday. Check distinctlysidney.ca for the event details
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Friday, February 5, 2016
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Town slashes 2016 tax rate Proposed hike of 2.72 per cent drops to 0.8 per cent on use of gas tax funds Steven Heywood News staff
Getting close to North Saanich territory when it comes to its tax rate, the Town of Sidney has slashed its proposed rate hike and will turn to gas tax money to do so. Sidney’s starting general tax increase of 2.72 per cent was cut to 0.8 per cent Monday night — and at one point was as low as 0.55 per cent. Either way, that rate is lower than the district of North Saanich’s 2015 mark of 2.9 per cent. Sidney’s 2015 rate hike of 2.52 was also lower — but not as low at the District’s 2013 and 2014 rates, which were set at zero. Sidney’s Director of Corporate Services, Andrew Hicik presented councillors with the option to use an estimated $1.8 million in gas tax money over the next five years to pay for a variety of eligible projects. For 2016, he reported it would reduce the tax burden by 1.5 per cent. Other options to help reduce the tax burden on residents and business owners included: reducing a top-up of new money into the economic development fund; using more surplus funds, and; reducing transfers of cash into reserves. Hicik said Sidney stands to receive up to $550,000 each year over eight years in gas tax dollars. More of that money, he explained, can be used to offset project costs — including some big ticket items
set for the next five years, like the planned Bevan Pier and Beacon Wharf upgrades, as well as the proposed new Community Safety Building. Using more gas tax funds, combined with a reduction in money to top-up the town’s economic development fund, Hicik said, would have cut the proposed tax rate increase from 2.72 to 0.55 per cent. Councillor Peter Wainwright, however, said he didn’t want to see the economic development financial impact simply put off until 2017. Sidney had $65,000 left in its fund from 2015 and staff had proposed carrying it over into 2016, creating a pool of $165,000. By moving the surplus $65,000 elsewhere in the budget, Hicik noted it would help contribute to the lower rate hike. Wainwright said he wanted that surplus split between 2016 and 2017 — meaning the Town would use $32,500 elsewhere and leave the economic development fund at $132,500 — still more than their planned budget of $100,000 — and avoiding a larger tax hit in the following year. Mayor Steve Price opposed the move, saying he didn’t see the sense in increasing the tax rate slightly to hold back that extra $32,500, just in case the Town needs it. Wainwright’s idea did, however, pass in a 6-1 vote. Sidney council has another scheduled opportunity to debate this year’s budget — on Tuesday, Feb. 23.
Reaching new heights
A 3-Day Lego Brick Festival
FEBRUARY 6th – 8th
Steven Heywood/News staff
Casey Jones, clockwise from top left, Kevin Lohr, Christina Woodcock and Whitney Corbett are climbing the walls after placing third at a recent crossfit competition in Penticton. The team went to the event representing Peninsula Crossfit. Read all about it on page 19.
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