The RM of Cartier presented its proposed 2017 financial plan at a public meeting Monday.

The $4.25-million budget is slightly less, about $9,000, than 2016 municipal expenditures. Ratepayers, however, will see an increase on tax bills due to hikes in the Red River School Division and Prairie Rose School Division tax levys.

"The next step is, council wants to review some budget numbers internally that some councillors still have concerns with," Reeve Dale Fossay says. "Then we'll schedule a special meeting later this week to give first reading to the tax levy by-law."

The combined at large/rural mill rate will be set at 10.87, slightly lower than the 2016 rate of 10.94. In the LUD of Elie, the combined at large/LUD rate is 9.99, up from 9.90 in 2016.

The Red River Valley School Division special levy is increasing from 12.98 mills in 2016 to 14.07. Prairie Rose School Division jumps from 11.57 mills to 12.37 in 2017.