It’s back to the drawing board for Dryden’s finance committee.
The second draft budget contains a property tax increase higher than the rate of inflation.
Treasurer Steven Lansdell-Roll says they are looking at an increase within their budget policy range of between 2.5 and 4 percent.
“There’s a $640,000 property levy requirement, which is approximately 3.97 percent.”
A majority of the councillors, including Michelle Price, would like to see that figure lowered.
“I’m good with 2.5…I would love to see it much lower,” Price told council recently during budget discussions.
“It would be nice to actually come into a council meeting where there are no increases in anything. There is no increase in water and sewer. There’s no increase in any of our fees or our taxes. Is that a reality? Probably not.”
Council was told that if they want to get to a 2.5 percent budget increase, then they will have to find $240,000 to chop.
