Sechelt council gave first reading to its budget bylaw March 16, but council will wait to give it further readings and final adoption until the mayor has a chance to review the budget in its entirety.
Mayor Bruce Milne was away on vacation in New Zealand during the most recent budget deliberations (in committee on March 9) that saw councillors vote in favour of increasing the municipal mill rate by 2.7 per cent.
That increase will amount to about $40 more in taxes for an average Sechelt home worth $400,000 and will bring in a total of $243,000 more to the district, which staff is recommending be funnelled into reserves.
The district already expects to see an additional $31 this year from the average home worth $400,000, as assessments have increased in most instances – so that leaves the average homeowner in Sechelt on the hook for about $71 more in taxes this year, should the budget be adopted.
The $71 figure doesn’t include the $12 more expected in garbage and sewer fees for Sechelt homeowners this year and it doesn’t take into account tax increases that could be levied by the Sunshine Coast Regional District and School District No. 46, which appear on a Sechelt homeowner’s tax bill.
Milne said at the March 16 regular council meeting that he wanted “a chance to digest” the full budget before giving it second and third reading and final adoption. Council agreed to the request.
“Thank you for that tolerance. I really didn’t read the financial plans while I was away and I want to go through this one very carefully,” Milne said.
The total Sechelt budget stands at about $21 million. However, almost $4 million of that figure is amortization, which needs to be detailed on paper but doesn’t need to be funded, leaving the total Sechelt budget to be funded at about $17 million for 2016.
