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GETTING THINGS DONE



By Mayor Tom Mrakas

This month at Regional Council, Council debated and ultimately approved the 2019 budget.

After months of work by Regional staff, Council was presented with a budget with a proposed tax levy increase of 2.96 per cent. Subsequent to that, Regional Council was presented with a request to further increase the levy by an additional 1 per cent for an accelerated roads levy.

While I did vote in favour of the budget with the 2.96 per cent proposed increased, I was not in favour of the additional 1 per cent hit to the residents pocketbooks.

Yes, the 1 per cent addition to the levy could provide a source of or revenue stream to increase funds available for road growth projects; however, I believe there is a better way to do it.

There is a better way to find the funds necessary to accelerate road growth projects than just simply increasing the tax levy and asking taxpayers to pay extra tax. For example, the funds could come from the Asset Management Reserve. Funds borrowed from this reserve would not impact the tax levy; would not require residents to pay an additional tax this year.

The recommendation to add an additional 1 per cent to the Regional tax levy did pass 16-3, with Mayor Taylor, Regional Councillor Hamilton and myself opposed. As a result of this vote, the 2019 Regional tax levy is set at 3.96 per cent.

If you would like to see and hear what I said at the Council table you may do so by visiting www.mrakas.ca/regional-council-update-february-28-2019.

Well, that is all for this week. As always if you would like to get into contact with me please feel free to contact me anytime by phone 905-727-3123 ext. 4746 or by email tmrakas@aurora.ca and if you would like to sign up for more newsletters and council updates then please visit Mrakas.ca/contact to join the growing list of Aurorans that are staying informed #GettingThingsDone

 

 


Post date: 2019-03-07 00:21:14
Post date GMT: 2019-03-07 05:21:14
Post modified date: 2019-03-07 00:21:14
Post modified date GMT: 2019-03-07 05:21:14

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