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Residents of Oliver OK with 9 per cent tax increase

The increase is a result of the cost of policing being turned over to the town

On Feb. 25, the Town of Oliver will likely see the implementation of another nine per cent tax increase.

“We looked at it, evaluated it and in consideration of the costs that are going to come to Oliver, we really had little opportunity to change that,” said Oliver Mayor Martin Johansen, speaking to the Western News on Feb. 20. “Unless we want to do it all at the eleventh hour so to speak and increase taxes by 50 per cent or so at that time.”

We hit the streets of Oliver to see what the public thought of this proposed tax increase, which was included in the previous council’s plan to prepare for costs of policing that will be handed down to the town once its population tops 5,000.

Overall, Western News heard from citizens that they were either unaware of the increase or were okay with it, so long as they actually do see an increase in policing. The town has been battling ongoing crime issues, holding multiple forums to address what the community can do to protect their assets from theft.

To report a typo, email: editor@pentictonwesternnews.com.

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