It may be time to pay the piper in Kincardine.
Kincardine council completed its third budget session and treasurer Brenda French says we’re looking at an increase of just over 5 per cent.
French says on an average assessed home of $196,500, a taxpayer right now is looking at a 38 dollars increase in taxes.
That doesn’t include the county or education levies.
Kincardine Mayor Larry Kraemer says to maintain a 5 per cent increase, they would have to approve a capital budget of under a half a million dollars which is simply not sustainable in a municipality the size of Kincardine.
Kraemer says they’d also have to use 600 thousand dollars in reserves.
He says the residents of Kincardine have enjoyed the lowest tax rate in the region for several years but that may come to an end.
He was asked if he’s looking at an 8 or 9 per cent increase and he says even that may not be enough.
Council will be at it again next Monday when they tackle the capital budget.
