Westside Council is one step away from approving its first municipal budget.

Council gave first three readings to the 2008 budget document Tuesday evening.

The budget includes a five per cent tax hit for the average taxpayer above the baseline budget figure produced a month ago.

The baseline budget used figures for services inherited from the Regional District.

Using those figures, the owner of an average Westside home valued at $490,000 would have paid $1,151 in taxes in 2008.

The five per cent average tax hike means that same homeowner will pay $1,208, an increase of $57.

During budget deliberations April 24, Council agreed to add three firefighters and proceed with renovations to the Main Westbank Fire Hall. Those accounted for a 2.4 per cent increase.

The remainder of the increase will go directly into reserves, as the municipality tries to build up funds to lessen the tax burden once provincial start-up payments end in 2012.

The 2008 budget will be approved May 13.

Tax notices will be sent to Westside taxpayers May 20.

Link: Westside proposes conservative budget