When virtually every business owner and property owner in this community has had to tighten their belts and make tough economic decisions, it was certainly refreshing to hear Osoyoos Mayor Stu Wells confirm town council has targeted a zero per cent millrate increase for 2012 during budget deliberations.
Wells and council deserve kudos for realizing some tough decisions have to be made to ensure there won’t be any significant tax increase for 2012 – a task made much more difficult with councillors knowing town staff are in line for a two per cent wage increase this year.
As Wells explained, if a homeowner in Osoyoos hasn’t seen any significant change in their  property assessment by the province, then they should expect their tax bill to be virtually the same in 2012 as it was in 2011.
Homeowners are still looking at a very minimal rate in user fees as they will be expected to pick up the additional costs for slight water and sewer rates increases, as well as garbage pickup fees, but those were coming regardless of any possible millrate increase.
Osoyoos, like many other rural communities in British Columbia, is struggling through difficult economic times and many people are struggling.
The timing couldn’t have been better for council to target no increase in taxes for at least one year. Council isn’t expected to pass the budget for another month, but there should be many smiling faces when homeowners receive their 2012 property tax bill and see virtually the same figures they saw a year ago.