Dryden Council Debates Tax Hike

Dryden Council can’t agree on an acceptable tax rate for 2013.
Debate continues in open and behind closed doors on the municipal budget.
Some on council want a zero increase while some say a hike is needed to maintain key services in the community.
Sid Wintle is pushing for a zero based budget, stressing taxpayers can’t afford a penny more.
Shayne MacKinnon believes that’s unrealistic and stresses the current options offer too many service cuts.
MacKinnon notes he doesn’t want to see a huge increase but says they have to maintain some services and move forward.
He says the current budget hurts youth and seniors in the community.
Finance Chair Martin MacKinnon says council is having a difficult time trying to strike a balance.
MacKinnon says they are trying to keep staff happy, user groups happy as well as seniors and stresses there’s some very difficult decisions being made.
Mayor Craig Nuttall says right now the acceptable level seems to be a 2.5% tax increase.
That would mean staff would have to find another $300,000 in savings.
The city hopes to present the budget in early April.