Suggestions from the public have led to a much reduced proposed tax increase, Local Trust Committee (LTC) Chair, Louise Bell confirmed Feb. 25.

Bell said the Islands Trust Financial Planning Committee has reviewed submitted comments regarding the proposed 2010-2011 Trust Federation budget, and has reduced its recommended tax increase from 4.9 per cent to 3.75 per cent accordingly.

Bell said that the budget would be discussed at the next Trust Council meeting on March 24. Trustee Sheila Malcolmson noted that a call for input into the budget was advertised in all the newspapers throughout the Trust islands.

Malcolmson also reported that the committee recommended an increase in the Gabriola Official Community Plan (OCP) budget of $6,500 for hazard mapping on Gabriola. She said that will bring the total OCP budget to $28,400 if the Trust Council approves the recommendation.