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2014 Essa Budget increase of 3.9% acceptable under the circumstances says mayor

January 29, 2014   ·   0 Comments

Essa township’s 2014 budget which will see an increase of slightly under four percent for the municipal portion of the tax bill is the best possible financial solution under current economic circumstances.

Essa council passed the budget last Wednesday afternoon at its third budget meeting.

Mayor Terry Dowdall, who had argued for a tax increase of around three percent, said that current economic conditions forced a tax increase which was a bit larger than has been seen by township residents in recent years.

“We have rising police costs, insurance and utilities charges,” he said. “There really isn’t any way that we can’t get around them.”

Dowdall said that the budget will continue the township’s ongoing program to reduce the number of gravel roads in the township.

“We will be paving the third line north of the tenth sideroad this year  and the ninth line,south of Egbert to the fifth sideroad, as well ” he said.

He said that the township was continuing to support the and monitor its new bus service from Barrie to the township.

“We will be reviewing after a few more months to see if it can be modified a bit. We are looking at adding service in the late afternoon to make it easier for people using the GoTrain to come back to the township,” he said. The township will also be looking into providing dedicated bus stops and possible bus shelters in the township.

In Angus, the township will continue its ongoing sidewalk program with a new sidewalk going by Our Lady of Grace school.

Overall, the township’s levy to its residents will total $4,600,000 approximately. For the average home assessed at $275,000 there will be an additional $25 on the tax bill.

By Richard Blanchard

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