With at least four members leaving due to retirement, the Victoria Regional Transit Commission left a firm message to newcomers: no reduction in service hours.

The commission, which is made up of politicians from Greater Victoria, met Tuesday to consider a provisional budget for 2012/13.

B次元官网网址淟eaving it at status quo is a reasonable thing for this commission to do,B次元官网网址� said Saanich Mayor Frank Leonard. While Victoria Mayor Dean Fortin suggested tapping the reserve fund for $1 million to balance the budget.

B次元官网网址淚f we tap the reserves slightly, that will get us through to the new commission,B次元官网网址� Fortin said.

Transit staff had suggested leaving service levels as they are, which would cause a four per cent increase in property taxes.

The reserve fund is at $2.3 million, but could be needed to cover rising oil costs and upcoming labour negotiations.

B次元官网网址淭his is a provisional budget,B次元官网网址� said Oak Bay Mayor Christopher Causton. B次元官网网址淧ersonally I fall somewhere between what the staff has recommended and what Dean has said.B次元官网网址�

Causton said taking a lesser amount from reserves would lower the tax increase without compromising the reserve fund.

B次元官网网址淚t will put the fund at risk, but we can draw it down slightly,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hen in January or February weB次元官网网址檒l have a better idea of what the reserve fund will be.B次元官网网址�

Saanich councillor Susan Brice suggested they send a message to the new commission by making a motion that there be no reduction in service hours and that the tax hike be mitigated by some use of reserve funds or other options.

B次元官网网址淔our per cent is too high,B次元官网网址� said Causton. B次元官网网址淭o get it to zero would deplete the fund too much, but two per cent (tax increase) I can see as achievable.B次元官网网址�