Pick a number between zero and two.
That’s the choice at this year’s budget open houses, which run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 8 p.m. next Tuesday.
Draft budgets with a one and two per cent tax hike will be up for a review, as well as a budget featuring no tax increase.
Council has yet to come to a consensus on this year’s tax rate, with some councillors calling for each of the three options that will be on display.
At the city’s final budget meeting before the open house, councillor Bob Adams led the charge for the zero camp, arguing stiff fee increases already adopted this year were enough for taxpayers to take on.
“At some point we have to draw the line and say this is enough taxes, because pretty soon you’re not going to be able to live in this town,” he told council.
But councillor Kim Charlesworth said leaving the tax rate unchanged could “hamstring” future councils.
“I suggest we need a two per cent increase at least,” she said.
Councillor Robin Cherbo, who suggested a 1.7 per cent “cost of living” increase also felt that a zero per cent increase gives “the public the wrong impression. They’re going to think that everything’s rosy... if we don’t have some flexibility, some room, it’s going to come back and bite us.”
Both open house sessions take place at the Nelson library, and feature a tour of the building’s recently renovated areas. City manager Kevin Cormack will make a formal presentation on the 2011 budget at 7 p.m.
Council will make its final decision on the budget March 7.