Whltby Free Prs, Welneday', Fobuaiy 16, 1M9, Page 5 Town tax reducedI PROM PAGE 1 Despite losing more than $700,000 in unconditional grants from the Ontario government, council stili managed to bring in a budget which reduces taxes, Fox said. This was accomplished through a combination of factors such* as wage freezes due to the prvnce's socal contract legiala- tion, increasîng user fees for many Town programs, and changes to ab e collection ser- vc, eplained Thýe later includes the eli- mination Of grass clippings pick- up service in response te a request from Durham Region. rGa sclipig had been pro- cessed at Durharn's composting facility et its Garrard Road North recycling centre. (But complaints fromn nearby residents abort odours produce-d by the decomposing grass, prompted Durham eb an clip- PiIn *co-operation with the Région, Town staff will develop a new program te encouraqe home compostiq and/or.recycling for grass clippmpg, Fox said. «It is signuficant te note that, with the exception of the change of procedure related te graus clppings, service levels for Town operations will be maintained et 1993 levels,' hie added. Although they aIl teok turne questioning staff about specifie items in the budget, no councillor was prepared te delete anything fromn the fi al document. «For us e where we are, staff perforzhedmiracles,» remar- ked councillor Marcel Brunelle. "It took a lot of work and fundamental changes in the way we do thing,' ixaièBrneIle. "Once again the Town of Whitby in leading the way » pro- claimed councillor John Distra. Recalling the many hours spent on the budget, Dolstra noted, "It didn't happen over- night, but the lent two, three years. "To be honest, Fin sick of looking at the budget,'lhe admit- ted, «but I hope it continues in this direction. Regional councillor Ross; Bat- ten, a member of Durham's finance committee, had some addition al good news for Whitby ratepayers. Durham Region la also expec- ted to a pprove a no-tax increase budget tis year, Batten said. Combined with Whitby's assesament growth, this will likely result in lower regional taxes for local residents, hie pre- dicted. (If Batten's forecast holds, the only tai increase will corne from the sehool board. Durhami Board of Education trustees are still grappling with a projected 6.7 pe cnt e.) «I think we re at the turning point (with respect te, the reces- sion),' said Batten, "I see nothing but good.times ahead.' Councillor Joe Drumm was rot quite as optinustic. " I thlnk the economy is as good as it'sping te *the next few years,said Drumm, adding that DENNIS FOX council may have had little choie but te lower taxes. «The tene has been set. People are fed up with tai increases and it's reflected at this table,» he said. "I think the days of two, three, four per cent tax increases are gone...I just hope I don't have te est my words later. Folloig the meeting, Fox told reporters he knew a decrease was possible some weeks ago, but did not want te rais. hopes in case it did not materialize. «We knew we were looking at zero for sure and we suspected a decrease, but until we had the final fligur:s we couldn't really Fox then surprised reporters when he said that until last faîl, council expected not only a tax hike, but a substantial one. 'Last August we wmere looking at double figures. What saved us from Septemùber te now was that we got a ton of money in,» said Fox. "Building permits, subdivision agreements, if we didn't have such a wonderful faîl, this whole scenario would b. different,» he said. "This la proof that we do bene- fit from development'» Ini addition te the financial benefits ratepayers will enjoy from a tai decrease, Fox hopes the exercise will help restere their belief in the political pro- ceas. qI think if anything, the public will start te get their faith back in the proceas,' he said. 'The message is we are listen- ing te them and we're sensitive te what we heard.» TUXEDOS ooUP Whether you need your uxedo next week, next mont.h or even next year if you order before FEBRUARY 27, 1994 yusilonly pay $69.00! Alen on BOOK YOUR t APPOINTMENT NOW. Now That's a Formai Offer! MERCANTIE Tm 321 Brock St. S. 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