1.75 PER CENT TAX INCREASE FOR 05 GROW-OP TIP LINE GOOD FINANCIAL SHAPE

Abbotsford city councillors have given final approval to a 1.75 per cent
tax increase for 2005.

The figure was originally decided upon in November as a way of giving tax
payers a one year break from higher charges.

The 1.75 figure is the result of a $1.6 million city surplus for 2005, of
which $1.1 million came from one-time provincial government windfall. The
rest stemmed from a GST rebate.

Because this money will not be available in the future, the city's five
year financial plan recommends tax increases of 3.99 per cent in 2006,
three per cent in 2007, 2.75 per cent in 2008 and 2.31 per cent in 2009.

However, these numbers are subject to change.

Coun. Ed Fast, who opposed the 1.75 increase when it was suggested by Coun.
Bruce Beck last October, asked city staff on Monday whether anything had
changed, in terms of funding, that could impact the approved number.

Financial services manager Judy Lewis said there was nothing that would
require the figure to rise.

A tip line has been released to help the City of Abbotsford cope with the
demand from its new Grow-op Public Safety Pilot Project.

The initiative, which started late last week, sees three
specially-appointed city staff travel Abbotsford streets and use
heat-detecting equipment to determine whether there is a grow-op inside a
certain property.

Speaking at Monday's council meeting, Reeves said she had been inundated
with requests from people who were telling her the possible locations of
various marijuana grows.

"I would encourage people to use the tip line. You will get a quicker
response from the three-man team," she said.

The number to call, according to Reeves, is 604-864-5512.

The City of Abbotsford is in "good financial health," according to a report
prepared by an independent auditor.

Bill Cox, a partner at Vancouver-based BDO Dunwoody Chartered Accountants
and Advisors, addressed Abbotsford councillors on Monday and told them the
city is in a sound financial position.

"You do not have anything that concerns us," Cox said of the period
covering the 2004 financial year.

"Your spending is very reasonable compared to other municipalities."

Cox also said his staff received "excellent co-operation" from city
representatives during the auditing process.