Went to a meeting at the community centre tonight – 4 people attended other than those that had to be there covering the event. Let me get back to that.

A prayer meeting next door – 10-15 people
Arena – twenty people laced up
Curling rink – 10 to 15 people throwing rocks
Weight room – 10 people waiting for a machine

oh and that tax meeting with two couples.

Sandy Croteau, Chief Financial Officer travels around the region – 14 sessions in all talking about taxes, costs, increases, expenses etc.

This was the last session – Area C – attended by 2 reporters, Ms. Croteau, Area Director Terry Schafer and alternate Rick Knodel.

Questions? – One on regional trails, the other on how to finance a feasibility study.

The gist of the meeting a tax increase for Area C residents. On an average home worth $255,000 – taxes will amount to $841.

The regional district budget totaling $27.6 million. Area C pays about 6.05% – well above the average for an electoral area which is 4.53%. Area C has more joint services and therefore more administration costs.
Increases this year include rural administration, regional trails and 911 emergency costs. Oliver Parks will get an increase of $87 thousand, Heritage up $7. Decreased line items: refuse/garbage costs down $11 thousand, decrease in general administration costs of $7 thousand, decrease in rural projects by $10 thousand, decrease in grants by $5 thousand. Overall Area C taxpayers will pay $1.568 million up a total of $109,423.

Final budget to passed by March 31st.

Obviously no tax revolt this year.