Taxes are going up in the township of Chatsworth.
Residents will see a tax increase of 2.95 percent — which will mean an average tax bill increase of 50 to 60 dollars.
Mayor Howard Greig says it was a very difficult budget because of a number of financial pressures — policing, fuel and the cost of living.
He says the new OPP contract has been the biggest impact on the budget.
Greig says the policing cost for the township have increased from 400 thousand dollars up to 600 thousand.
He says the province sets the standards and offers a contract that does not leave a lot of room for negotiation.
Greig says the township has been forced to cut its road resurfacing projects from the annual budget.
He says they are fine for this year with the recent announcement of 1.6 million dollars from the province for roads and bridges.
However, Greig says it will be difficult next year, unless the province comes up with permanent yearly funding.
The township also received 896 thousand dollars through the province’s Municipal Infrastructure Investment Initiative to be used for the reconstruction of Massie Road.
The total budget is about 7.4 million dollars, however Greig says its not a true gross budget because of the additional funding from the province.
