Compromise budget means a total 3.09 percent tax increase in Saugeen Shores- probably

SAUGEEN SHORES-

The average Saugeen Shores homeowner faces a combined 3.09 percent increase for town, County and school board taxes this year - but that number could change if councillors add or cut more from the operating and capital budgets before final approval at the end of March.

That 3.09 percent total tax hike is an additional $87.63 this year for a combined tax bill of $2,919 for the average homeowner.

The capital budget which requires $1.2-million in taxes, and the $9.8-million operating budget are described as "stay the course' by Kate Allen, the town's Director of Finance, who said there are no new services and no major service level changes in a status quo financial plan.

Deliberations were tough according to Mayor Mike Smith who said they had to balance wants with needs in times of dwindling provincial dollars - $350,000 less than last year - and a growing wish list from citizens.

'We got (the increase) down there by deferring some things and cutting a bunch of things," Smith said after a four-hour budget meeting Feb. 4 that cut approximately $60,000.

For the town's portion of the tax bill, the budgets include a 3.87 percent increase which equates to an additional $48.36 on the average house assessed at $270,000. The town will collect $11.9-million in property taxes this year, up from $10.4-million last year

"I'm happy that we got down to where we are, and that's probably where we're going to end up," Smith said after the meeting.

Councillors voted not to borrow $1.3-million to begin implementation of phase one of the Port Elgin Waterfront Master Plan.

Vice-deputy mayor Diane Huber said with little or no discussion on how the proposed $1.39-million would be spent, the proposal was a weird one to even have here.., and was very premature.

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Compromise budget means a total 3.09 percent tax increase in Saugeen Shores- probably