Most taxes going up in Rainy River Farms, and residents face biggest increases while industrial sees big cuts

Ken Johnston
Editor

A meeting was held at 6:30 p.m. Monday at which any taxpayers could view the town ‘s 2006 budget and ask questions of council. However, other than the media, no one attended.
After the public meeting was held, council held its regular meeting with Councillor Gerry Marchuk acting as Mayor and Councillors Ed Tymkin, Debbie Ewald and Dean Wiersema in attendance.
Mayor Glen Armstrong and Councillors Brent Anderson and Dennis Ewald were absent.
One of the first items on the agenda was the adoption of the town’s 2006 budget.
All councillors present voted in favour of the budget that will see the following changes for taxpayers:
Residential: up 4.7%
Multi-residential: up 3.4%
Commercial Occupied: up 3.4%
Com. Exc. Land: down .3%
Com. Vacant Land: down 8.8%
Indust. Occ.: down 10.6%
Ind. Vac. Land: up 1.8%
Pipelines: up 1.0%
Farm: up 14.9%
Estimated revenues in the 2006 budget for Rainy River are as follows:
Taxation: $412,050
Fed/Prov. grant: $545,118
Licencing: $7,150
Rentals: $6,000
Int. on taxes/fines: $23,000
Gen. Admin fees from other depts.: $68,000
Med. Centre rent: $49,000
Misc. Rev/trans of reserves: $159,100
School Tax: $140,000
Total Rev: $1,409,418.
Estimated 2006 expenditures are as follows:
Gen Admin-councillors fees and office wages: $164,200
Gen Admin-office building: $74,006.56
Gen Admin-misc.: $153,269.84
Prop/Equip Maint/garbage pickup: $289,798.94
Protection to people-police, ambulance, fire, etc.: $207,300
Charitable donations/Ec. development: $11,600
Health and Soc. services: $202,649.78
Culture and Rec.: $113,000
Med. Centre: $43,100
School: $140,000
Deficit: $10,492
Total Exp: 1,409,418.
While most departments saw little change in spending, Councillor Debbie Ewald said much of the increase is because of government downloading and increased costs to municipalities.
Tax bills will be due August 31, 2006.
Other business
•Council endorsed a resolution asking the province to not implement the Watertight Report to Create an Ontario Water Board or transfer jurisdiction of water and wastewater to regional municipalities.
•Council urged the province to provide adequate funding under the Clean Water Act; review implementation of it with commodity groups and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario.
•Council passed a motion to endorse the Great Beaver Boat Race as a community event for insurance purposes.
•The meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.