CallanderCallander is looking to the future.

That was one of the major highlights of the 2015 budget process, according to Mayor Hec Lavigne.

He says they tied their strategic planning exercise from 2015 through 2018 into their budget process.

Strategic priorities include everything from promoting greater use of the community centre to reducing energy use, rehabilitating Lansdowne Street, securing a future fire hall/operations site to “proactively lure commercial business to Callander”.

Lavigne says getting commercial activity going is one way to help reduce the tax burden on residents in Callander.

The 2015 budget includes 4.9 percent tax levy increase with the 2015 residential tax rate increase of 0.93 percent.

That amounts to an additional $97 per year for the average Callander resident. 2015 capital projects include new asphalt on Lansdowne Street, replacing streetlights with LED lights, building condition assessment repairs, developing a storm drainage maintenance plan, refurbishing the Yarlasky Park sign with an electronic sign and continuing to contribute to dedicated infrastructure and Downtown Revitalization Strategy reserves.