Re: South Frontenac budget

Rosemary O'Toole | Nov 25, 2016

Having read the front page (South Frontenac budget Set for 2.2% tax increase, Nov 17th) I am wondering where common sense has gone with South Frontenac council?

An increase of 2.2% every year for 10 years is above the cost of living for Ontario & above any income increase we may get in our household & a lot of others for the next ten years.

At the moment property taxes are based on the value of the property set by MPAC therefore the higher the value of the property the higher the tax bill. The higher valued properties are already paying more for roads & services etc. than a lesser value property & you want to increase it even more?

I am at a loss for words as to why the council thinks that a higher valued property produces more garbage than a lower value property.
At the moment I am paying for 8 bags of garbage a month, I only need 1 bag a month as I recycle & compost so I am already subsidizing the overall costs for garbage to other households who do not recycle

Surely a fairer system would be to scrap the garbage bag tag system from the waste management fees on the property taxes & have each householder purchase their bag tags as needed from the township or other convenient locations.

This system would encourage recycling as well as saving money for households who do recycle or are away for any length of time, i.e.vacations, snowbirds, illness etc.
Another system would be to charge garbage fees based on the number of people in the household which would more fairly reflect on the amount of garbage being produce rather than the cost of the property.

I am hoping council will come to its senses & take my concerns into account & not pass this budget.