CitySSM     City council approved a 1.9% increase to the property tax rate for residential ratepayers.  Council finalized the budget last night and for an average home assessed at 175-thousand dollars it will mean an increase of $44.  Making use of surplus funds and reserve funds and extending the financing for the repayment of the Northern Community Centre all played part in reducing the property tax levy. City staff had recommended and council accepted last night using 2.3-million dollars from two reserve funds and the estimated surplus.  An additional close to 250-thousand dollars was found by extending the financing period for the Northern Community Centre by an additional 10-years in a motion brought forward by Councillors Romano and Shoemaker.  City Finance Commissioner Shelley Schell assured council that the Northern Community Centre is self financed internally and there is no interest cost implications to it. Council approved the budget by a vote of 10 to 3 with councillors Shoemaker, Christian and Fata voting against it.