Council adopted this years budget on May 4 announcing a tax increase to residents of 2.3 per cent.
The increase means that over a three year term, taxes have increased by one per cent.
“We as a community have the lowest tax increase of any community that I’m aware of over our three year term,” said District of Vanderhoof Mayor Gerry Thiessen.
“We had to increase them about two per cent this past year and we had taken a one per cent decrease two years ago,” he said.
“So that’s a really positive note for our community, from a council that has been very fiscally responsible,” he added.
The two largest fund allocations are firstly recreation and cultural with $1.317,729, and secondly public works with an allocation of $1,260,600.
Arena Manager Shallon Touet says a new Zamboni for the arena didn’t make the cut this year.
“I actually pulled it off because we invested more money in it again and it seems to be operating good so far and the users were liking the way it was working,” said Touet.
Money in the recreation and cultural budget have been allocated for some new sidewalk curbing outside the arena.
“To replace the curbing that’s been wrecked from several years of use,” said Touet,
The public works department has a busy year ahead of them with several large projects going on in town.
Currently they are in the process of removing a dangerous crosswalk from Burrard Avenue.
“It’s basically the one opposite the Chamber of Commerce,” said Public Works Superintendent, Paul Carver.
“It’s unsafe because there’s too much happening there – it’s busy and it’s not signed very well,” he said.
Public works will also be doing improvements to the CN crossing on Silversmith, which is being done in conjunction with some improvements CN will be carrying out to their crossing.
Derksen Road is also on the budget list for some paving between Highway 16 and where the road transitions into McDonald Road. Further paving will be carried out on Rivett Lane and a portion of Speedway Road. Public Works also just finished placing some crushed gravel on Redmond Pit Road that completes a project that was started last year.
Other significant projects include a seal coat on a portion of Old Loop Road, Ray Street, Smith Road/Sinkut View Road and Speedway Road.
Major culvert replacements are planned for Derksen Road and McDonald Road. Some significant ditching is due to be carried out on the School District property on Stewart Street, and a storm sewer extension is planned on Church Avenue between Columbia and Stewart.
Public works is also looking at leasing two gravel trucks this year which will double up as snow plows, as well as the purchase of another public works pick up truck.
A number of water and sewer projects are also in the budget.
“My plate’s pretty full this year,” said Carver.
