COBDEN — Whitewater Region treasurer Marsha Hawthorne received a standing ovation from Mayor Hal Johnson following the presentation of the 2016 budget, which came in at $8,528,527.
“The budget is fair and transparent,” Ms. Hawthorne said at the end of the presentation during the corporate services committee meeting last night.
The levy increase is a 7.2 percent increase, however, of that percentage, 5.4 percent is strictly to cover the increased policing costs, she pointed out. Council members were distressed they have no say on the policing costs.
“A 7.2 percent increase is high,” said Councillor Chris Olmstead, adding, “but, 80 percent is due to policing costs. It could have been less than two percent.”
Councillor Daryl McLaughlin said there needs to be a “big discussion on protective services. What can be done? Five percent is an awful increase.”
Treasurer Hawthorne said even with the increase, due to assessment growth in the municipality and decreases in the county and school board levies, the taxation increase is actually a decrease.
Explaining, she said if a house assessed at $100,000 were not to increase, the taxes would decrease $21.67.
A special council meeting was held following the committee meeting to pass this year’s budget. Please see next week’s edition of whitewaternews.ca for a full story regarding the 2016 budget.
Other stories to appear next week from last night’s meetings: the website contract; employees using public works garage; and why a hiring committee was formed. And, while not discussed, there will also be a story regarding the damage to the pavilion at Lookout Park near Westmeath.
