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The City of Merritt is looking for public input on the upcoming budget and tax increase.
A new family-run diner located in the heart of Merritt is being planned to open later this year.
NEW DINER
TAXES INCREASE THURSDAY, JAN. 23, 2025
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BUDGET CUTS THREATEN RCMP DETACHMENT AND 24-HOUR POLICING Merritt council faces tough choices as tax increases and service reductions are discussed TY LIM
reporter@merrittherald.com
Municipal support for the RCMP detachment may be decreased as the city is looking for ways to cut costs amongst nationwide inflation. As the May deadline for city council to finalize the town’s budget plan for 2025-2029 comes ever-closer, cutting officer spots for the RCMP has been discussed as a viable way to save money. Funding for the RCMP in the 2025 financial plan currently accounts for about 40 per cent of the municipal levy allocation or about $5 million invested into the field of protective services. Operating costs in all fields are expected to rise each year for the city. Funding allocated to the RCMP may even account for half the municipal budget in 10-years-time. Mayor Mike Goetz is looking at ways to balance all sides of the situation. “We also need to talk about federal RCMP coverage the way we’re going right now. In 10 years, it’ll be over 50 per cent of our budget. We can’t go in that direction,” he said during the Jan. 14 council meeting in which the budget was the centre of attention.
The city is contemplating an eight to 12 per cent municipal tax increase. As providing funding to RCMP is a large money-sink, the city is planning ways to decrease some of those costs. There have been 25 options presented to city council as ways to lower the tax increase by various percentages. In 17 of these options, cuts to RCMP spots or other protective services such as the removal of the physical space for the community policing office are part of the plan. RCMP Staff Sgt. Josh Roda told the Herald in an email that he is supportive of vacating the Community Policing Office located at Spirit Square. “I am supportive of this as the building dose pose a bit of a security risk. Marlene Jones, the Community Policing coordinator, often works there alone, which can be a risk to her as we cannot provide an officer to be in that building 24/7/365,” the email said. Jones would not be losing her position if the building is closed, only relocated to work in the detachment instead. Despite the seemingly dire situation,
PHOTO : TY LIM
DRIBBLE, DRIVE, DUNK: Merritt Secondary School Sr. Boys team clinches second place in hometown basketball tournament. See Page 12 for story.
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