City of Powell River council has adopted all of the 2011 financial bylaws for water and sewer fees and property taxes.
Council gave initial readings at the May 3 regular council meeting and adopted the bylaws at a special council meeting on May 10.
Dave Douglas, director of financial services, explained at the May 3 committee-of-the-whole meeting that the bylaws reflect earlier decisions, of holding the tax increase to 3.8 per cent for residential properties and one per cent for businesses. The bylaws also establish a 10 per cent increase to water rates and a three per cent increase to sewer fees.
The five-year financial plan had been revised from the one the public saw at a meeting in April, Douglas said. The revised plan incorporates developments since that time, such as a $1.6 million grant from ACAP (Airports Capital Assistance Program).
The waterworks regulations and rates bylaw has been revised, to address concerns raised by a local business. A new classification for salons, spas and barber shops was added to the bylaw and the classification for hotels/motels was revised.
Sheona Scott, owner of Beyond Bliss Salon*Spa*Suites, had been asking city council for a number of years to review the schedule of classifications.
Under the new classification, Scott’s water fees are reduced by about $1,500.
