Essa settles on 1% budget increase; Mayor Guergis opposed
by Richard Blanchard

Essa council has settled on one percent increase in its levy to its residents.

But the decision came over the opposition from the township's mayor Dave Guergis who pushed councillors for a zero percent increase.

Guergis said that he felt that the township would be sending a message to Simcoe County and other municipalities that it was not necessary to increase taxes every year.

"It seems to have become acceptable to have tax increases every year and I don't think that's right," he said.

"They all seem to be going in the same direction and these small increases add up."

Guergis noted that, even with a zero per cent increase, the township was planning major work on several bridges, improvements to its parks and recreation programs, road upgrades and other work.

"Even with a zero percent increase, we will be able to maintain our reserves and increase them by $400,000," he said.

Deputy mayor Terry Dowdall said that he felt that the township could do more with a one or two per cent increase.

"Why not put a little less into reserves and spend it on road improvements," he said.

Councillor Rick Newlove said that he felt that, even with a two per cent increase in taxes, the township was doing a better job in holding the line on taxes than other surrounding municipalities.

Council eventually decided on a one per cent increase.

Mayor Guergis said that he felt generally pleased with the one per cent increase.

"It is fairly modest and think that we are doing a lot of projects this year which will benefit the township's residents," he said.

Deputy mayor Terry Dowdall agreed with Guergis' analysis of the budget.

"With an increase of one per cent, we're being responsible but we're going to do a lot of of projects including roads and parks," he said.

The budget will be adopted at Essa council's next meeting on May 16.