The Saugeen Conservation Authority is asking its member municipalities for more money.
General Manager Jim Coffey says they’ve passed a draft budget that has a small overall increase of 0.24 per cent.
But the draft also includes an 8 per cent increase in the municipal levy – that 8 per cent amounts to almost 97-thousand dollars.
Each member would be paying 16 dollars and 76 cents for every 100-thousand dollars of assessment, an increase of one dollar and 17 cents.
Coffey says they’re not adding any programs but are just looking to maintain the status quo.
He does say that some of the increase is needed for a pay raise for staff that was committed to last year after a rigorous review.
Coffey echoes what Bayshore Broadcasting news has already reported from the Grey Sauble Conservation – the province has not increased funding for the authorities since 1997.
The Grey Sauble Authority is also asking for an increase in the municipal levy.
Coffey says levy increases for the Saugeen Conservation Authority have hit double digits in years past – in fact, the original 2009 budget called for a 15.5 per cent increase.
He says with economic concerns this year, the authority did its best to pare down the budget and he says anyone would be pleased to see a less than half per centage point increase in total budget.
A final vote on the budget will take place in February.
