Town council is looking at a 2.6 percent tax hike for local residential property owners and a 0.85 percent increase for commercial in its proposed 2006 budget.
These rates will come into effect if council approves the budget at its regular meeting tonight at 6:30.
Town CAO Mark McCaig said last week that council received information regarding the levies for Rainycrest Home for the Aged and the Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board.
It found the town had projected a higher increase for the latter than what actually ended up being, he noted.
“That reduced our operating shortfall a lot,” McCaig said.
“Looking at the minimal shortfall in operations and the capital projects plan for this year, council by consensus—it’s not voted on yet—is looking at a 2.6 increase on the residential, with about a 0.85 percent increase for commercial,” he added.
The budget will be discussed at a special public meeting following the committee of the whole meeting.
The public is invited to attend this meeting to make written or oral presentations either in support of or against the budget proposal.
Clerk Glenn Treftlin said this morning that no one has contacted him yet on making a presentation regarding the budget this evening.
Tonight’s council meeting is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m., with the budget meeting as the first item on the agenda.
It will be preceded by the committee of the whole, which starts at 5 p.m. but is expected to be in-camera until 5:30.
Also at tonight’s meeting, Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship chair Jim Cumming will speak to council to request town support for this year’s tourney, which is slated for July 23-29.
Other business at tonight’s meeting includes:
•a request from the Northwestern Health Unit to proclaim May 12, 2006 as “Canada Health Day 2006, Public Health Working for You,” in the Town of Fort Frances;
•a request from the Ontario Family Fishing Weekend steering committee to proclaim July 7-9, 2006 as “Ontario Family Fishing Weekend” in the Town of Fort Frances;
•a request from the Ontario Nurses Association to proclaim May 8-14, 2006 as “Nursing Week” in the Town of Fort Frances;
•a request from Pauline Perreault for financial support of the Tim Perreault Memorial Golf Tournament; and
•a request from the Regional Municipality of Durham for support of its resolution regarding the removal of barriers to family physicians.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
