Thompson-Nicola Regional District board of directors adopted a financial plan bylaw for 2015-19 during its March 27 meeting in Kamloops.
The 2015 Final Financial Plan proposes a tax requisition of nearly $24 million, which would be a 1.4 per cent increase to the 2014 budget.
There is a net increase to operating reserves of about $2 million, which consists of transfers into general administration, solid waste, E911, and building department operating reserves.
The average residential taxpayer in the regional district outside of Kamloops will see changes ranging from a decrease of $38 to an increase of $20.
Ad hoc communication committee formed
The board agreed to create an ad hoc committee focused on communication (ad hoc is a Latin phrase meaning “for this” and usually signifies a committee set up to deal with a specific task for a short period of time).
The committee will be active for up to six months and will be made up of five directors and the chair (ex officio).
The purpose of the committee will be to identify ways to seek input from the electorate about how the TNRD can more effectively communicate with them; provide input to staff about how existing communication tools and strategies can be enhanced; and clarify communication responsibilities of directors and develop key messages directors can use in their communication activities.
Changes to mobile home park bylaw
The current TNRD mobile home park (MHP) bylaw is to be replaced.
The new bylaw received the first two readings. This update is primarily for the purposes of:
• Definitions/provision concordance;
• Better providing for bare land strata subdivisions of MHPs; and
• Advisable clarifications based upon recent litigation.
There are also proposed amendments for the TNRD's zoning bylaw for the purposes of concordance.
The amendment was given two readings and will be brought forward to a public hearing at a future board meeting.
Updates to the directors' expenses
The board of directors approved amendments for a number of aspects of the directors expense reimbursement and remuneration bylaw.
These included an increase to the electoral area directors and municipal directors’ communication allowances; an increase to the base meeting rate; and reimbursement of expenses for attending up to three TNRD grand openings a year.