Council Approves 2011 Budget

Lake Country, BC – At a Special Council Meeting held on February 22^nd, the District of Lake Country Council voted unanimously to adopt the 2011 Annual Budget.

The process for the budget approval was different from other years and focused on the new Corporate Plan adopted in the Fall of 2010. The purpose of the Corporate Plan is to identify Council’s priorities. Although the process was longer than usual, the District has accomplished two things this year. First, the budget was approved early in the year rather than closer to the traditional Spring deadline established by legislation; and second, the budget better reflects capital and operational priorities established by Council in the new Corporate Plan.

Staff received direction from Council to prepare a budget that would keep the current level of services and begin to address infrastructure aging issues that are becoming more pressing.  In addition, Council was faced with increased costs for services provided by external agencies, such as the RCMP and BC Transit, and a number of contractual maintenance obligations.

“I am satisfied with the process and its result,” said Mayor James Baker. “We had to deal with increase costs and an inflation rate at 2.4%, but staff was able to put together a reasonable package that meets Council priorities and expectations.”

The capital budget totals about $10,000,000. Council approved phase 1 of Lodge Road improvements for a total of $1.3 million, which will see the road rebuilt and a pedestrian pathway provided. There will also be pedestrian and safety improvements to Davidson Road and Lake Hill Drive, in the new “Lakes” subdivision. Finally, the District will continue to work on the $5 million Kal Lake Interconnect project, mostly funded by the province and the federal government, which will address water quality in Oyama. The 2011 phase of this project will cost in excess of $1 million for the construction of booster pump. The District has spent $400,000 to date for this project.

Property taxes are going up 3.9%, which means that taxpayers will pay an extra $11 per $100,000 of assessed value of their property. Water bills will increase an extra $19 per year. All other fees will remain the same.

For more information contact: Stephen Banmen, Chief Financial Officer, District of Lake Country. Tel 250-766-5650 or sbanmen@lakecountry.bc.ca