Dryden Ratepayers Looking at Tax Hike

Dryden taxpayers will be seeing a 3.9% tax increase in 2010.
The final draft of the Municipal budget was presented to Council Monday night and is expected to be approved February 16th.
The budget is balanced but incorporates a $1.5-million special assistance grant that the City doesn’t know if it will even receive from the Province.
Some on Council want to see a back-up fiscal document on how the City plans to recoup the $1.5-million if the request is denied by the McGuinty Liberals.
Councilor Mike Wood says they have to stay aggressive, while maintaining service levels.
Wood adds the budget incorporates the priorities contained in the Strategic plan.
The budget contains 85-capital projects, totaling $23-million, 63% of which is expected to be funded by the Provincial and Federal Government.
Another significant loss in tax assessment from the large industrial sector is mainly behind the proposed tax hike.