Sechelt council found more money for another wharf project during their April 17 council meeting before giving two readings to their five-year financial plan.
The five-year plan shows balanced budgets until 2017 with a built-in two per cent tax increase each year.
Council also gave two readings to bylaws that will up garbage and sewer user fees by two per cent in 2013.
Coun. Mike Shanks brought up one final wharf project that could be funded with money sitting in reserves before council dealt with the financial plan Wednesday night.
He moved that $50,640 be taken from a specific reserve set up to improve infrastructure at the Porpoise Bay wharf and that the money be put into the capital budget this year for use.
He said the money was needed to expand the loading dock and walkway at the wharf beside the Lighthouse Pub because at low tide there is currently "very little dock space" for boaters to utilize.
Interim chief financial officer Tim Anderson said the project went to tender last year and the quotes came in between $50,000 and $108,000, so it could possibly be completed with the reserve money.
Mayor John Henderson suggested they allow the project onto the capital list and send it out to tender, but said that if the work costs more than the $50,640 available, the project would likely be scrapped, as there's no more money in the budget.
When the vote was called, all but Coun. Chris Moore were in favour.
Council then gave two readings to their five-year financial plan, which is a prerequisite before tax rates can be set.
The municipality must also wait to see how much money the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD), the school district and the fire department require from Sechelt before they can set their 2013 tax rate bylaw. The tax rate bylaw must be adopted before May 15.
While council's SCRD representative Darnelda Siegers was absent from the meeting, she sent a note to council cautioning them to be careful that user fees pay all the costs that will be incurred by the District for garbage collection.
"The SCRD is increasing the charges for all residences, I believe, on the Coast and I believe that's $25 per household," Henderson told council. "So she wanted us to remember that, that whether we are in fact increasing our charges enough to cover that cost that we then have to pay to the RD."
When council asked Anderson if the fees in fact pay for the service completely, he said he didn't know.
"I'm always a little embarrassed when I get things two minutes before meetings because I don't have this information just to spit at you. You are aware this bylaw increases our fees by two per cent for a full year. The SCRD increases start halfway through a year. I can't emphatically look at you and say, 'yes we balance off' because I'm just not sure," he said.
Staff was requested to ensure fees fully pay for the service before council gave two readings to increasing garbage fees by two per cent. Any change to the bylaw can come back next week before third reading and final adoption is given.
