Lake Country council cancels upcoming meeting

Published on February 4, 2023 by David Wylie

Photo: Okanagan Journal

Lake Country has cancelled its upcoming council meeting, even as residents face a 17.05% tax increase.

Noticing the cancellation on the district website, Okanagan Journal reached out to find out why.

“There were too few items on the agenda so the meeting was cancelled,” says a communications spokesperson.

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“Council had three additional meetings in January, including the town hall the other night and budget deliberations.”

The tax increase comes amid key interest rate hikes and high inflation, steadily raising the cost of mortgage payments and grocery shops, among other things.

The next council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 7 p.m.

Council plans to give second reading at a meeting on Feb. 23. Adoption of the budget is expected in March.

You have until Feb. 23 to comment on the budget through the district’s Let’s Talk page.

That said, the district appears poised to follow through with a 17.05% municipal tax bump, which was given first reading on Jan. 31.

Lake Country CFO says residents don’t want service cuts

The district’s Chief Financial Officer and director of finance, Trevor James, says there doesn’t seem to be an appetite to cut services.

James spoke at the district town hall last week.

“Our current reading on the pulse of the community is obviously no one’s happy with a tax increase; however, there does not seem to be an overwhelming push to reduce service levels to avoid such increases. It’s ultimately council’s budget to approve.”

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Correction Feb. 6: Council plans to give second reading at a meeting on Feb. 23. Incorrect information previously appeared.