City council is leaning toward a three per cent tax increase for 2014, but the vote is four against three.
At its regular meeting Tuesday, council introduced and gave the first three readings to the 2014-2018 financial plan bylaw.
The bylaw will be given reconsideration and adoption on May 6, and on the same day, council will consider the tax rate bylaw, which has to be finalized by May 13.
Mayor Kerry Cook and councillors Laurie Walters, Sue Zacharias and Geoff Bourdon voted in favour of the five-year financial plan that would require a three per cent tax increase for 2014.
Councillors Danica Hughes, Surinderpal Rathor and Ivan Bonnell voted against the financial plan, supporting a zero per cent tax increase.
CAO Darrell Garceau said to go forward with a zero tax increase is not sustainable for the city.
“We are suggesting we invest two per cent toward a pavement management plan,” Garceau said.
Bonnell encouraged the public to let elected public officials know what they think about the bylaw, whether they are for or against the bylaw.
