Tax Increase in Machin

It took longer than expected, but Machin Town Council has finally passed its 2010 budget.
The average homeowner in Vermilion Bay will pay 4% more this year.
Mayor Garry Parkes says they wanted to hold the line, but costs for social services such as Ontario Works, continue to escalate.
Parkes says their initial budget forecast called for an 8% increase, but managers were able to whittle that down in the past few weeks.
He notes they had to cut a few things from their capital budget, including extra road work this year.