The Town of Okotoks approved its 2019 Budget and Service Guidelines last month and residential taxes are one of the key principals up for review.

Town Councillor, Tanya Thorn, says taxes will increase.

"The residential increase is being targeted at three per cent for 2019." said Thorn.

In addition to the residential taxes, council is also looking at a targeted phase-in to raise the current 1.5 to 1.6 per cent for non-residential tax rates.

The service levels on snow and ice will also be a principal for consideration.

Thorn says it's necessary to review these service levels due to the impacts the community saw this past winter, and council will evaluate them after receiving recommendations.

"We'll be getting some recommendations back of what the options are and what the budget impacts are for each of those options," she said.

Free public Wi-Fi locations are up for review as well. Currently, the only location in town that offers this service is the Okotoks Recreation Centre, and one additional location being considered is the Pason Centennial Arena.

According to Thorn, council will be exploring additional locations, but the financial implications of that service need to be considered, in addition to the impacts on recreation.

"The whole point of recreation is to disconnect from devices, so I'm not sure if that makes sense, but that is only my opinion." said Thorn.

 

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