May 9/01
LAND O'LAKES -NEWS & VIEWS
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Central Frontenac Residents Facing a Tax Increase
By David Brison An increase in property taxes in the range of 10-20% is projected for Central Frontenac residents.Council met to work on the 2001 budget on the afternoon of April 30 and the morning of May 7. Another meeting is scheduled for May 17, and it is expected that the budget will be finalized then.
The overall picture is grim there is a projected loss of roughly $1,000,000 in revenue, and following the April 30 meeting, when some spending cuts were made, an increase in expenditures of $231,000 was projected.
Council cut expenditures at the May 7 meeting, but without further cuts and if revenue remains the same, the projected tax increase would be in the mid- 20 percent.
More cuts in expenditures are expected at the May 17 meeting. Council also has the option of raising revenues by drawing from reserves. This could bring the projected increase into the 10-20% range.
The drop in revenue is in part due to a reduction in the provinces Community Reinvestment Fund, which was set up to help with the costs of amalgamation and is being scaled down. Expenditures are up because the costs of downloaded services, such as policing, are increasing.
Mayor McDonald echoed the sentiments of the other members of council, An increase of more than 20% is unacceptable and we will work hard to bring it closer to the 10% level. I have been on the phone with officials to let them know the seriousness of the situation.
Councillors differ on where expenditures should be cut, but every member of council accepts the fact that, although the projected increases are very regrettable, they are backed into a position where a substantial increase in taxes in necessary,
