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Council adopts tax bylaws

Revised water fees recognize modern businesses

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.