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Jasper Finlay, 2, with Jasper Finlay, 2, with his dad Jon, check out dad Jon, check out ahisthree-headed ostrich a three-headed ostrich puppet from Puppets for puppet at from Puppets for Peace the Carnival Peace at the of the Arts on Carnival Monday of the on Hill Monday at the Arts Cedar Rec at the The Cedar Hill Day Rec Centre. Family Centre. The Family Day event featured a variety event featuredactivities, a variety of children’s of children’s activities, including facepainting, including animals, facepainting, balloon arts balloon arts and crafts,animals, music and a and crafts, magic show.music and a magic show. Jacob Zinn/News Staff Jacob Zinn/News Staff
Proposed budget brings 3.25 per cent boost in taxes Travis Paterson TravisStaff Paterson News News Staff
Saanich’s finance department released department released itsSaanich’s proposedfinance 2016 financial plan with a its proposed financial plan with a 3.25 per cent 2016 tax hike for homeowners. 3.25 per cent hike homeowners. The 3.25 pertax cent is for broken down as a The 3.25 per cent is for broken as a 1.66 per cent increase coredown municipal 1.66 police per cent increase ($1.77 for core municipal and operations million), police operations million), aand 0.87 per cent increase($1.77 for capital a 0.87 per cent increase for capital replacements ($932,900), 0.58 per cent replacements ($932,900), 0.58 perand cent for resource requests ($621,150), for resource ($621,150), and 0.14 per cent requests ($145,840) for the Greater 0.14 per Public cent ($145,840) Victoria Library. for the Greater Victoria Public Library. It means average Saanich homeowners It means average Saanich homeowners
are projected to pay about $116 more are2016, projected to pay about in once sewage, water$116 and more in 2016, sewage, water and refuse is once factored in. Last year Saanich refuse is factored in. Last year Saanich homeowners saw an average hike of homeowners saw an average hike of $168. $168. Overall the budget isn’t grotesque, said Overall the budget Mayor Richard Atwell.isn’t grotesque, said Mayor Richard Atwell. “We’re not hearing from residents to “We’re not hearing from residents cut services to make taxes lower,” heto cut services to make taxes lower,” he said. said. A reduced police budget is being A reduced police budget beinghave credited for trimming what is would credited trimming whatfor would have been a farfor higher increase taxpayers. been a far Police higherhad increase for taxpayers. Saanich originally brought Saanich Police had originally forward a budget proposal with brought a 6.8 per forward a budget proposal with a 6.8 per
cent increase for 2016. cent increase for 2016. “Police responded to our request that “Police to our request that they limit responded their increase to no more than they limit their increase more than 3.5 per cent,” said Coun. to Vicno Derman. 3.5 per cent,”extremely said Coun. Vic Derman. “Yes they’re important but it “Yestothey’re extremely important but it has be affordable.” has to be forward, affordable.” Moving Derman said the goal Moving forward, the goal is for Saanich PoliceDerman to keepsaid its growth is for Saanich Police to keep its growth at less than 3.5 per cent in future years, at less 3.5 per cent in future as that than number is still higher thanyears, the as that number is still than the average growth of any higher other department average growth of any other department within Saanich. within Saanich. Saanich Police spending will jump to Saanich Police spending will jump to $30.8 million in 2016, up $920,000 from $30.8 Most million 2016, up $920,000 from 2015. of in the increase represents 2015. Most of the increase represents
the same growth built into many of the the same growth builtagreements into many of the collective bargaining Saanich collective bargaining agreements Saanich has with union employees. has with union employees. Among the key capital expenditures in Among the$5.9 keymillion capital Wilkinson expenditures in 2016 are the Road 2016 are the $5.9 million Wilkinson Bridge replacement and $3.6 millionRoad in Bridgestave replacement and $3.6 million wood replacements. Saanich is in wood stave replacing thereplacements. final sections Saanich of woodisstave replacing the final sections of wood stave stormwater pipes. stormwater pipes. Saanich’s 2016 budget estimates Saanich’s 2016 budget in estimates bringing in $251,533,700 revenue bringing$251,533,700 in $251,533,700 in revenue against in expenses. The against employs $251,533,700 expenses. The district closeinto 1,600 full-time, district employs close to 1,600 full-time, part-time and auxiliary employees. part-timereporter@saanichnews.com and auxiliary employees. reporter@saanichnews.com
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