First Official Arena Tax Increase
The Stratford Beacon Herald reports that last night St Marys Council voted for a 2006 tax increase of 4.9 percent. The increase will primarily go increased salaries, benefits and of course the first of the tax increases officially designated for the St Marys Arena Expansion. One example of an unofficial Arena Expansion tax in previous budgets is the Facility Maintenance Fund, 62% will go to the arena.
Mayor Tony Winter made no apology for three years of increased rates repeating the claim that town services needed to be improved. Winter did not provide examples of where services actually have improved which is hardly surprising since the extra money was spent on pay raises, staff offices and the arena expansion process.
Most of the town improvements that people will see will come from the provincial government. Ontario has given $534,000 for upgrading St Marys roads and bridges. Surrounding municipalities also received similar grants and in fact for Perth County the provincial money allowed them to decrease their tax rate.
Mayor Tony Winter made no apology for three years of increased rates repeating the claim that town services needed to be improved. Winter did not provide examples of where services actually have improved which is hardly surprising since the extra money was spent on pay raises, staff offices and the arena expansion process.
Most of the town improvements that people will see will come from the provincial government. Ontario has given $534,000 for upgrading St Marys roads and bridges. Surrounding municipalities also received similar grants and in fact for Perth County the provincial money allowed them to decrease their tax rate.
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