District of Sooke councillors will sharpen their pencils next week following its first look at the municipal budget.
The proposed 2016 budget documents prepared by administration will be debated for the first time in public by council Monday (March 14).
Acting mayor Rick Kasper is hoping council will support a “fairly active” sidewalk and pathway program over the next three years, and set to work on improvements to John Phillips Park.
“These are the types of projects that need to be included in the budget discussions,” Kasper told the News Mirror last week.
High priority for Kasper is the completion of sidewalks on the westside of West Coast Road from Otter Point Road to Hope Centre and to finishing off the remaining components of the Brownsey Boulevard and Goodmere Road extension.
The district begins its financial plan deliberations Monday followed by meetings on March 21 and 29.
Council must approve a five-year financial plan and tax rate bylaw by May 15.
The district’s budget is estimated at more than $12 million.