Comox council took one step closer to their goal of a 2.5 per cent tax increase in their review of the 2012-2016 financial plan at Wednesday's committee of the whole meeting.
In a report to council, Don Jacquest, director of finance for the town, noted staff have been reviewing the draft financial plan and would like to propose changes that result in an $85,000 overall reduction in expenditures, which will help balance the plan.
Some of the changes include splitting the $60,000 budget in the Parks Department for greenways in 2013 between 2012 and 2013 to allow them to partner with the Salmon Foundation, and administrative budget reductions such as reducing the budget for a new vehicle and removing an allowance for computer upgrades.
Council also passed a motion to restore the full Robb Road upgrades project (resurfacing, widening, bike lanes and sidewalk) in 2016, which was removed at the last committee meeting. Jacquest said council can assume the sidewalk portion will be grant funded. By 2016, staff would know whether or not a grant is probable, and council could make the final decision on whether to proceed with sidewalks or not at that point.
Council will examine the draft financial plan again in two weeks.
• • •
Although daffodil sales for cancer research abound this month, Comox resident Wendy Prothero reminded council Wednesday about the significance of the red tulip.
The flower is the symbol of Parkinson's disease, as April is Parkinson's Awareness month, she told council.
Prothero spoke on behalf of the Comox Valley Parkinson's Support Group, and informed them 11,000 people in B.C. live with the disease, while 1 in 300 Canadians suffer from the degenerative disorder.
She added the group, which has around 25 participants, offers monthly meetings to provide an atmosphere of mutual support and trust, to share information and ideas and experiences, to enjoy social activities and to create awareness about Parkinson's in the broader community.