The RM of Armstrong's given first reading to their 2016 financial plan and budget. It includes an increase in tax revenue of about four per cent, stemming from the major changes to assessment. Reeve Jack Cruise notes while they'll see a four per cent increase in revenue, not all ratepayers will be paying an additional four per cent on their taxes.

"Our assessment had went up, so our mill rate has gone down, but we'll be collecting approximately four per cent from last year. That varies a bit, we have three different school divisions in our municipality and each one has a different mill rate. Different parts of the municipality will have a slightly different increase or decrease."

Cruise admits Council was hoping to only see an increase of about two per cent, but notes this year's budget includes a number of capital projects such as road work.

"One road project we're actually rebuilding a mile of road. We also have a lot of fixing to be done, washouts, and rotten culverts that are caving in on us and need to be fixed. We also want to try and to a bit more graveling this year than what's been done in the past. It's basically a maintenance budget."

However, it's not just infrastructure they're hoping to work on in the next year. Armstrong recently hired their first economic development officer, to help bolster the municipality's growth. Cruise notes they've allocated some funds toward her work in the area.

"We're going to try and spend some money, as we've hired an economic development officer, and we want to try and get some work done with the small community groups, listening to their ideas. We want to make Armstrong a better place to live, whether it's with community groups or small businesses, we want to get that type of stuff going if we can."

A public hearing on their 2016 financial plan is set for April 28th at the Fraserwood Hall, beginning at 7 pm.