Council aims for 2.4 per cent hike next year

By Rick Vanderlinde Barrie Advance Apr 13, 2012
INNISFIL — Council has already given town staff its marching orders when it comes to next year’s tax increase — 2.4 per cent and no higher.
 And that is a “blended increase”, meaning it will absorb any increases passed on by Simcoe County, the school boards and the police service.
 It will also include Innisfil’s new 1 per cent special levy designed to build up a reserve account.
 Innisfil taxpayers saw a 3.5 per cent increase this year, which also included the 1 per cent set aside for a building reserve fund, to help the town replace key infrastructure – and become less dependent on OLG revenues.
 “This will give staff a number to work with,” Coun. Lynn Dollin. “But we don’t want it to be to the detriment of something that may come along.”
 A major unknown facing council this year is the future of funding from the Slots at Georgian Downs. The town currently receives about $4 million a year in gambling revenue, but that may change through the OLG’s new “modernization” plan. The town is expected to meet with OLG officials this month for more information.
 “Of significant interest to this community is the prospect of the modernization efforts of
 the Ontario Lottery & Gaming (OLG) and the approach that could unfold with respect to slot revenue sharing with municipalities,” finance director Lockie Davis said in a report.
 Council will continue its early budget deliberations this year. It passed this year’s budget last December, the earliest ever. Many municipalities, such as Collingwood, have just passed their budgets.
 Getting the budget out early — and ahead of other municipalities — is especially important for capital projects that need to be tendered.
 This year’s target is even earlier. Council hopes to pass the 2013 budget on Nov. 21.