By Lyonel Doherty
Oliver Chronicle
The Town of Oliver has directed staff to increase taxes nine per cent, meaning the average residential homeowner will pay $47.51 more on their municipal portion in 2018.
That equates to about $4 more every month, said Mayor Ron Hovanes after Tuesday’s budget meeting in council chambers.
“Council is acting very intelligently,” he said, noting that it would be irresponsible to ignore future RCMP costs that will increase significantly when Oliver is expected to surpass 5,000 population in 2022.
Hovanes said preparing for the increase now will result in a “softer hit” later.
Council will also establish a policy for the continuation of tax increases to fund RCMP costs, and will allocate 50 per cent of non-market increases (in a reserve fund) to pay for major crime incidents.
Councillor Dave Mattes said the nine per cent will be a “tough pill to swallow,” but reiterated it will only cost the average homeowner $47.51 more a year (on the municipal portion of their tax bill).
Councillor Maureen Doerr said people have been telling her that the Town has to start putting money away in order to avoid the “big hit” in RCMP costs, which will jump 70 per cent in 2022. The Town currently pays 30 per cent for policing services.
The budget passed by council includes spending $1.2 million on various capital projects, such as a new Spartan Street sidewalk and upgrades to Station Street.
Commenting on the budget, Chief Financial Officer Devon Wannop compared Oliver to other similar-sized municipalities, saying property taxes and mill rates are lower here.
