— Town's five-year financial plan also released —

(OSOYOOS TIMES — April 4, 2007) —

By Julie TurnerrnOsoyoos Times

Osoyoos Town Council gave the public its first look at the preliminary budget for 2007, revealing a tax increase of three per cent, down from last year's four-per-cent tax hike.
It also gave first three readings to the proposed budget and five-year financial plan, which will be ratified at Council's next meeting on April 16 after public consultation.
Copies of the plan are available now at Town Hall.
Osoyoos' Finance Director Jim Zakall says the 2007 budget is a good news budget, with a lot of capital projects planned for this year, some of which may be funded in part by grant applications.
At the April 2 meeting, Councillor Dick Flintoft said Council had worked hard to determine the important projects in this year's budget and to look at future planning needs.
It took a lot of work and I want to thank all the councillors for their wonderful input. I think we've really studied the issues and everybody's had the opportunity to have their input, Flintoft said.
The $11.9-million budget includes capital projects totalling $5.9 million, $5.4 million in operating expenditures, debt repayment of $132,000 and reserve transfers of $524,200.
Some of the highlights in the budget's general capital projects ($1.7 million) include:rn¢ water park master plan (a study of the downtown waterfront area and comprehensive master plan for the beach, Gyro Park, Seniors' Centre and Museum)rn¢ aquatic centre facility study and surveyrn¢ facility needs assessment (still in the draft phase)
¢ fire department equipment (no big-ticket items like a new fire truck, still in discussion)
¢ fire hall study (to find a new location for the fire hall)
¢ road and sidewalk upgrades
¢ gateway sign
¢ airport site servicingrnWater capital projects total $2.3 million and include a water master plan, UV and chlorination systems for Wells 6 and 7, and water meters to be installed in the water district. Sewer capital projects total $1.9 million and include the sewer lagoon expansion and lift station upgrades.
Operating expenditures include increased funding for the Osoyoos Landfill and recycling operations and increased funding for operations at the Sonora Community Centre, including the public library move. The budget also allocates $50,000 to the Splash Park project under the transfers to reserves for 2007.
Councillor Stu Wells noted that though the budget numbers are in, they are not cast in stone and that all the projects may not necessarily be completed in 2007. There is a possibility of the funds being set aside or set on a shelf because we don't get at it … but the money is there and the priority of the projects is there.rnCouncillor Allan Carswell pointed out the budget includes funding for a number of studies, and explained the reason for that is to be ready with project plans should provincial or federal funding become available.
It's not yet known what the average homeowner will pay in taxes this year. Zakall says he's waiting for the tax roll assessment to determine that number,