County councillors dwell on 4.75 per cent tax increase
By Richard Blanchard

As Simcoe county councillors began work on their 2008 budget last week, at least one county councillor urged council to exercise some restraint in terms of tax increases. The draft budget presented by staff suggests a budget of $440 million, up 11.7 per cent from the 2007 budget of $394 million. If passed as presented, the budget would rise about $46 million over last year.

Staff said that the increase in expenditure would be funded through $4 million more through a tax increase of 4.75 per cent, $2 million would be seen through a 2.5 per cent growth in property assessment since last year and the remaining $40 million through debenturing for capital projects.

The county's overall levy to its municipalities would rise to $89.4 million. The debenturing would allow the county to move on increased spending on major capital works projects such as roads and bridges, the Site 41 landfill and its long term care facilities.

"A 4.75 per cent increase was used as a starting point," said the county's general manager of finance Thomas Evans. "Whether it is enough to meet all the demands facing the county is up to council."

In both 2006 and 2007, the county approved tax increases of 4.75 per cent.

Evans said that a 4.75 per cent jump would mean an increase of $39.41 on a property worth $300,000.

Oro-Medonte deputy mayor Ralph Hough said that even a $40 increase could be hit many county residents hard

"For someone making $10 or $12 per hour that would be half a day's pay and for senior citizens on a fixed income, it would be equally hard, just so we can spend $30,000 on re-branding our traffic signs," he said. "Ultimately, all the tax increases come out of the taxpayer's pocket."

Among the proposals contained in the budget are the expenditure of $25 million for infrastructure replacement by the county's roads department, which is part of a 10-year plan to improve the county's roads and bridge system. Also in the budget is the recommended expenditure of $6.4 million on the new landfill Site 41 north of Elmvale, $4.7 million for the introduction of the county-wide organics waste program, almost $22 million on the redevelopment of the county's retirement home in Penetanguishene and the preparation of the county's Growth Management study.

The draft budget will be reviewed by the county's standing committees next week. A final draft will be voted on at the regular meeting of county council at the end of the month.