It’s that time of year again — tax time — and in this case we don’t mean filing your income taxes.
Rather, it’s the time when city council starts finalizing the City budget, and the questions on everyone’s minds are always: “Are my taxes going to go up?” and “By how much?”
City council has endorsed a preliminary 2011 budget and is projecting a three-per cent tax increase this year. Council says the increase is necessary to address general inflationary costs and increases to the RCMP contract, solid waste management, negotiated salaries and debt services.
What do you think?
Obviously, the reasons lead us to more questions, and we’re sure you feel the same.
The preliminary capital budget also includes funding for traffic-signal upgrades, a final design for Woodland Drive water and sewer services, completion of dewatering the City’s wastewater treatment lagoons, Phase 2 of the River Valley Trail stormwater system, irrigation at the Boitanio Park bike park, and the re-location of the Station House Gallery.
A public information meeting on the budget will be held in city council chambers on Thursday, March 10 at 6 p.m. Bring your questions — and your concerns (or maybe praise?) — to that meeting. Be there to have your voice heard, and if you cannot attend, contact the City and let officials know your thoughts.
If you don’t speak up now, you should have nothing to complain about later after the budget is finalized and adopted.
It’s your money. How do you want it spent?