Fort Erie, along with other municipalities, begin looking at budgets for the fall season
The long road to budget season in the fall has started, and Fort Erie council is preparing for some tough decisions.
Councillor Nick Dubanow tells us they face a potential 16% tax increase, yearly, but that's before they start moving budget pieces around.
He says they'll look at life expectancy of town equipment, as well as debt financing, or borrowing. "If a sewer project is at end of life, and it's going to cost us way more if we don't do the work, that's something we can look at. Again, going back to the work we started 10 to 15 years ago, we're in a really good position now that we can actually undertake debt financing."
He stressed a 16% increase is not sustainable, putting residents in a real tough spot.
He adds Fort Erie's finances are good, which helps when seeking provincial help.
"I know there's only one taxpayer, and one individual that pays, but the province has much better means at their disposal to take much larger financial obligations on."
He says all municipalities are facing the same problems, due to inflation, debt loads, cost of doing business, etc., as they embark on the same endeavor as Fort Erie.
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