Will a tax freeze be in the forecast for Chatham-Kent?
Council approved a motion by Chatham Coun. Doug Sulman for staff to provide options to council to reach a zero per cent tax impact budget in 2015.
The draft municipal budget is set to be presented to council tonight (Tuesday, Jan. 20.)
Chatham Coun. Derek Robertson, the chair of the budget committee, said there are many paths for council to take during the budget process.
“Council needs to keep an open mind,” he said.
Wallaceburg Coun. Jeff Wesley said he supports the idea of reaching a zero per cent budget, but does not want to see a repeat performance of previous years.
Wesley said seeing a list of potential pool or arena closures is not the way to go.
“There are many paths to get there,” Wesley said.
Chatham Coun. Michael Bondy said having the options sets the tone for budget deliberations.
“Zero per cent is achievable,” Bondy said. “We can make adjustments from there. It doesn’t have to be arenas and libraries.”
After the budget is tabled tonight, C-K is holding a series of community open house sessions next week, starting in Dresden on Tuesday.
For more information, read our story here: C-K budget deliberations around the corner
