Changes to 2021’s budget, a bursary for students and new zoning and Official Community Plan were approved in Keremeos’ Feb. 16 council meeting.

A slight increase in the tax rate for 2021 will be coming, with the increase rising to 0.8 per cent from the 0.4 per cent that was included in the first draft of the budget.

That rate increase is in line with the rate of inflation and the Consumer Price Index, and will result in a small increase to annual taxes of $9 for the average single family residential property in Keremeos valued at $299,477.

READ MORE: Keremeos looking at status quo budget for 2021

In 2020, the budget was increased by 2.5 per cent from 2019, to match the CPI increase for that year.

The updated Official Community Plan and zoning bylaws were also adopted and put into effect.

The new bylaws can be viewed on the Village of Keremeos website.

The bylaws updated the previous 2013 OCP and 2011 Zoning Bylaw with information based on the last census in 2016, trends and land availability as well as floodplain regulations and other considerations.

READ MORE: Second electronic public meeting for Official Community Plan update Feb. 1

Council gave their approval for a $500 bursary to be distributed by the Similkameen Elementary Secondary School.

The Village’s council also approved staff to seek a grant for $90,000 for flood mitigation planning.

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