Township now looking at 6.27 per cent tax increase, and it could go lower
By Bill Rea

King Township staff have been able to get this year's proposed tax increase lowered, and councillors are hopeful it can be reduced even more.

Councillors got together Thursday for their second working session on the 2008 budget, and CAO Scott Somerville told them they are currently looking at a tax increase of 6.27 per cent. This is an improvement over the 12.42 per cent hike that was discussed at the first session last month.

"Certain refinements are being made," Somerville added, pointing out there's still a way to go before the budget is finalized.

He said the public is going to have the chance for input April 7, and he said staff will try to have as final a document as possible ready for that session. The plan is also to have final decisions made on the municipal grants at that meeting.

The tax hike currently being discussed covers just the Township's share of the municipal tax bill. Treasurer Don Young told councillors there's going to be no change to the educational component from last year, and York Region is still working on its budget. It's slated to go to committee next month, he said.

Mayor Margaret Black, who sits on Regional council, said they are currently looking at approximately a four per cent tax increase.

Councillor Bill Cober said he was looking forward to this week's provincial budget, hoping there would be some good news for municipalities, thus allowing for more cutting to the tax hike.

Black confirmed there might be, referring to the announcement earlier in the day that the government of Premier Dalton McGuinty plans to invest an additional $1 billion this year to strengthen municipal infrastructure.

She added she's been talking to some people in the provincial government, including Oak Ridges - Markham MPP Dr. Helena Jaczek, about what might be expected in the budget. She also said there have been meetings involving Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Jim Watson on the farm-tax rebate program, and she said there's some progress being made on it for municipalities. "It's now on the radar screen of government," she remarked.

None of the councillors were particularly pleased with the prospect of a 6.27 per cent increase.

"Certainly not six," was the response from Councillor Cleve Mortelliti when asked what kind of tax increase he'd like to see. But he added everything in the budget seems pretty important, and he wanted to see what other adjustments could be made.

"We just have to see further refinements, then take it from there," he commented.

Councillor Jeff Laidlaw observed that with inflation in the area of two to three per cent, it's hard to justify raising taxes 6.27 per cent. He added last week's session was just a working meeting, and he was looking forward to seeing further reports from staff.

"I'd have a hard time selling 6.27 per cent to my residents," he concluded.

"I think that we will be less than 6.27," Cober commented after the meeting.

He was pleased money is being included in the proposed capital budget to work on fixing some of the roads in King, adding it's "negligent" to keep putting that work off.

"Staff's done a good job and did what we asked them to do," he concluded. "We asked them to get down. There's more ways to go yet."

"With these economic times, we're going to have to tighten the purse strings," he added.

"It's pretty high," remarked Councillor Jane Underhill, referring tot he proposed tax hike and lamenting there might not be much more that can be done about it. "I don't see how it con come down much further."

"I think probably we'll get it down a little bit," remarked Councillor Jack Rupke, although he added there are still some things that need to be looked at.

"We have to get it down," Black declared after the meeting. "Sharpen the pencil."