by Marcel Tetrault
Comox Valley Echo

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Cumberlanders can expect their tax bill to increase by about eight per cent this year.

Council passed first reading of a budget bylaw that would see a 7.4 per cent tax increase. With increased assessments factored in, the average increase is expected to be closer to 8.6 per cent.

Mayor Fred Bates said he appreciates that an eight per cent increase appears pretty hefty in tough economic times.

But he noted that every one per cent increase brings in just $16,000. As far as infrastructure goes, not a lot can be done with $16,000.

"A half a person's wages would equal (a) four or five per cent (increase)," said Bates. "It's the minimal increase we could do to just get anything done in the village, there's no fat in there whatsoever."

Recent tax increases, said Bates, have gone towards getting the village's financial house in order. Now that significant work has been done in that area, it is time to move towards meeting the village's infrastructure deficit.

In 2009 the village installed water meters and made improvements to the chlorination and sewer systems. New projects for 2010 include the sewer treatment head works, a water line replacement, preliminary design for water and sewer capacity increases and a structural assessment of the cultural centre.

"There is a cost to having these things done," said Bates. "Now that our infrastructure has deteriorated to the point it has, it costs even more. So we have to do a lot of make up, and it's not cheap."

A budget information package should be available for public perusal on the village's website by the end of the week. The proposed budget has so far received just first reading.

Also on Monday council passed first, second and third reading of a bylaw that would see each member of council's pay increased by $600 per year.

A meeting to provide information about the proposed budget to the public has been set for April 19 at 5:30 p.m. in council chambers.


© Comox Valley Echo 2010