91原创 Township councillors have signed off on a five-year financial plan that will impose 2.95 per cent tax hikes every year from 2014 until 2017.

The plan was approved Monday afternoon, with Councillor Kim Richter casting the lone vote against.

Council will not deal with a proposed 2.79 per cent tax hike for this year until next month, when a vote on preliminary approval of the 2013 tax rate is tentatively scheduled for April 8, with the vote on final approval set for April 22.

Along with the five-year plan, which is required under provincial regulations, council also unanimously approved increases to sewer and water rates.

The minimum six-month charge for metered water customers will rise from $210.46 to $216.67 for the first 110 cubic metres of water consumed.

The flat rate will rise from $420.92 to $433.34 a year.

Sewage rates will rise by similar amounts.

This year鈥檚 $256 million budget would increase the yearly tax rate for an average house worth $485,000 from $1,490 to $1,531.