WEDNESDAY
S I N C E
FEBRUARY 5, 2014
1 8 9 5
Vol. 119, Issue 20
105
$
INCLUDING G.S.T.
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Fruitvale toddler picked as one of the cutuest Page 3
PROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF ROSSLAND, WARFIELD, TRAIL, MONTROSE, FRUITVALE & SALMO
Trail council begins budget review
GETTING THEIR KICKS
BY SHERI REGNIER Times Staff
With burgeoning recreational costs, mounting legal fees and climbing airport expenses, Trail has a taxing year ahead if the city wants to stay out of the red. The general operating budget, called the “strategic plan of operations,” was discussed at length during a budget overview at Monday’s governance and operations committee meeting. Overall, Trail council reviewed upcoming expenditures minus the city’s 2014 revenues and within the next few months, a budget will be finalized and this year’s property tax requirements set. For now, based on an average house assessment of $181,000, a homeowner could end up paying $854.41 in property taxes, up $54 from last year. Factoring in an average 3 per cent increase in water, sewer and garbage, Trail taxpayers could end up paying a $73 increase, totalling $1692.11 on the average residence, which is an overall hike of 4.5 per cent from 2013. That number could vary somewhat if council finds ways to whittle down the budget and avoid dipping into the reserves by cutting from various general government departments including, but not limited
to, recreational services and grants, economic development initiatives, and costs associated with conventions council members attend throughout the year. “I don’t want to see a reduction in reserves because we’ve been there before and it’s not a comfortable place to be,” said Gord DeRosa, a 26-year Trail councillor. “Because we could have something catastrophic happen and not have the funds to cover the costs of repairs,” he continued. “I am comfortable with a three and a half or four per cent increase (property tax), because that is palatable in my mind.” The budget reflects the city’s immediate $207,000 revenue loss related to the end of a five-year recreation agreement with the Beaver Valley communities, however council discussed a need to review services in all Trail facilities because costs, including the library and cultural services, have climbed from $1.5 million to almost $ 4 million in the past 14 years. “You need to go through each department and look critically at the services being provided,” explained David Perehudoff, Trail’s chief administrative officer. “And what you are comfortable with and how you have to get there. See MEMORIAL, Page 3
FRUITVALE
Councillor resigns BY SHERI REGNIER Times Staff
ART HARRISON PHOTO
Alvin Cormier (left) and Carolyn Cameron get in a few kicks (and punches) over the noon hour during Tae Kwon Do sessions at the Trail Martial Arts studio in downtown Trail. Instructor Jason Ayles offers the day time classes Tuesdays and Thursdays for those looking for a quick, intense workout during their workday and for shift workers to allow them to get in extra classes they may miss in the evenings.
New Listing
New Listing
An elected Fruitvale official was blindsided by a decision that passed during a January council meeting, and in response, has resigned before completing his term as a village councillor. Larry Gray, twice elected to his position as Fruitvale councillor and director to the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB), was ousted from his regional appointment and replaced by Mayor Patricia Cecchini during the village’s Jan. 6 council meeting in a 3-2 vote. “Without having this issue on
the agenda, it was moved, seconded and passed to replace me with the mayor,” said Gray. “It was done over my objections because I put in a lot of time and effort on projects that I am working on and would like to continue working on.” According to Gray, reasons cited by council included the director position should circulate to allow others with a stated intention to run in the next election, and Cecchini stated that only mayors should be the RDKB representatives for municipalities. See LETTER, Page 3
Contact the Times: Phone: FineLine250-368-8551 Technologies 62937 Index 9 Fax:JN250-368-8550 80% 1.5 BWR NU Newsroom: 250-364-1242
SOLD
Canada Post, Contract number 42068012
All Pro Realty
Thea 250.231.1661
Mario 250.368.1027
1185 Tamarac St $129,000
1274 Heather Place $279,000
7801 Crema Drive, Waneta Village
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