Port Alberni city council is continuing to trim its 2025 budget by deferring purchases to future years.
During a regular meeting of council on Monday, Feb. 10, council made some changes to the 2025-2029 financial plan that would bring down the proposed tax increase from 16.40 percent to 14.18 percent this year.
Based on a recommendation from city staff, council voted to defer the purchase of several new vehicles from 2025 to 2026. Councillors noted that the threat of U.S. tariffs could push these purchases to further years.
“We might need a larger strategy change, should those tariffs come in," said Port Alberni Mayor Sharie Minions. "Right now I think there’s a lot of speculating, because it’s the best we can do. I feel uncomfortable replacing [the vehicles] now with so much uncertainty about what is coming.”
Council also voted to use funding from the Alberni Valley Community Forest Reserve to help with rink board replacement at the Alberni Valley Multiplex, freeing up $250,000 in the budget.
Although council gave second reading to the budget on Feb. 10, changes can still be made to the financial plan before it is adopted. The budget must be adopted by May 15, 2025.
