The RM of Victoria council recently voted to collect one mil on the general assessment and assign it to the municipality's general reserve fund. Reeve Harold Purkess says this is the fund that covers any kind of unforeseen expenses which pop up, noting council thought it was getting a little bit on the low side so they decided to replenish the general reserve. Purkess says this should have minimal effect on homeowners' tax bill, as it will add less than ten dollars per property.

He notes council does have to follow a fairly strict set of rules with this kind of thing, and just because they're sitting on the money doesn't mean they can always spend it. Purkess adds they have to allocate certain amounts for certain expenditures, and the general reserve fund is what they use for expenditures that arise where they haven't specifically budgeted. He says it basically acts as a rainy day fund for the municipality. Purkess notes adding this small amount to the general assessment should bring the general reserve total up to around two hundred thousand dollars.