M{zd{
YEAR 2X1.5 END FP Earlug SALES EVENT
CAMPBELL RIVER 2280 Island Hwy.
See page 19 for details
PROCESS
CAMPBELL R IVER M IRROR CAMPBELL RIVER MIRROR FIRST ISSUE 1971
INSIDE TODAY’S EDITION
(Across from the IDEAL CAFE)
1-888-307-5728
DL30675
k o o B Son g Holiday
www.coastlinemazda.com
FIRST ISSUE 1971
View our eEditions online
View our eEditions online FRIDAY, FRIDAY, December DECEMBER9,9,2016 2016
Newsstand Newsstand 85¢ 85¢
www.campbellrivermirror.com www.campbellrivermirror.com
City council ‘comfortable’ with 2.5% tax increase KRISTEN DOUGLAS CAMPBELL RIVER MIRROR
‘Comfortable’ seemed to be the common theme around the table on Wednesday afternoon as council wrapped up a 10-year financial plan that includes several critical infrastructure improvements and a 2017 tax increase. Both Mayor Andy Adams and Coun. Michele Babchuk said they were “comfortable” with landing on a 2.5 per cent residential tax increase for 2017 following three days of budget planning by city council. That figure falls within the budget parameters of a 2.5 to three per cent tax increase that city staff had built in to the 10-year, 2017-2026 financial plan. The hike equates to a $36 tax increase for the average assessed Campbell River home. “I think we’ve done a really great job of being able to get our priorities in there, have some great capital projects come forward and not be too much of a burden on the taxpayers,” Coun. Babchuk said. Included in the 2.5 per cent increase is a 0.75 per cent tax allotment that will be set aside in reserve accounts and go directly towards the city’s capital plan which includes several infrastructure improvement projects. Coun. Colleen Evans said as the city’s assets age, it’s vital that coun-
cil has a long-term plan for staying on top of necessary improvements which communities across the nation are facing. “I think the challenge always is during budget time that infrastructure needs far exceed our current funding models and we have to be aware of that fact and that’s why this 10-year plan was put in place,” Evans said. “Infrastructure continues to be a major crisis in municipalities across B.C. Just a cautionary note that we need to recognize that and it’s not going to go away. These funding models and these reserves are put in place for addressing what is an inevitable issue that is coming forward to this council and councils in the future and that’s how do we address significant infrastructure issues in our community.” Coun. Charlie Cornfield, who made the motion to allocate the 0.75 per cent towards capital (which is the same amount as in 2016), said he agreed with Evans that it’s critical dollars are earmarked for such investments. “I support 100 per cent having money set aside for infrastructure,” Cornfield said. To that end, council approved a lengthy list of capital projects including $250,000 in 2017 and $2.97 million in 2019 to replace aging infrastructure along Shoppers Row between St. Ann’s and 11th
TYEE
Continued on Pg. 3
JOCELYN DOLL/CAMPBELL RIVER MIRROR
A giant Teddy to toss
Kole Anderosov, 6, waits for the Storm to score so he can throw his teddy bear on the ice at the Friday night Storm game. The annual Storm Teddy Bear Toss collects stuffed animals to hand at out at senior care homes at Christmas. See game report on page 15.
570 – 13th Avenue
Tyee Chev 7x2.5 ON ALL ELIGIBLE 2016 AND 2017 VEHICLES PROCESS
tyeechev.ca
SEE DEALER FOR DETAILS
CHEVROLET | BUICK | GMC
250.287.9511 DL#10790