PENTICTON – Penticton property owners will see a 5.5 per cent hike in their tax bill this year.

City council voted in favour of the increase, but not without some misgivings about approving it prior to a final audit of 2015 expenditures.

Coun. Helena Konanz and Coun. Andre Martin wanted to put any potential surplus towards reducing the 2016 requisition, but the rest of council had no appetite to use a potential budget surplus for a tax break. They would rather put it towards the city’s reserves.

City of Penticton director of operations Mitch Moroziuk said he hoped to have the final audit results for 2015 available to council next month.

Council will be reviewing the Light Canopy Project in the capital budget during their Feb. 15 meeting. The original $394,300 cost of the light canopy envisioned for the 100 block of Main Street could cost up to $519,300 if council proceeds with an option for coloured LED lighting at an additional cost of $125,000.

Several members of council have expressed second thoughts about the canopy since approving the colour upgrade in November.

The Downtown Revitalization Committee, will also be making a presentation to council at the Feb. 15 meeting, prior to council’s review of the capital budget.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.