​Readers weigh in on Kincardine’s 2023 budget

To the Editor:
RE: “Kincardine hikes bag tags by $1 to keep tax-rate increase under 7%”

Your story indicated that the budget was trimmed by 4.1 per cent, but did council really do what was intended?

The tax increase was reduced only to reach into your other pocket for a dramatic increase in the cost of bag tags. Since we, as ratepayers, will be footing this bill, the net result is $160,000 of NO savings.

Another $155,200 for the nurse practitioner and physician recruitment came from reserves; so, again, money not saved, but simply taken from a different pocket/future needs.

Within the past year, a tree policy was proudly championed in the municipality, and here, 20 per cent of the budget was chopped! The municipality will find it that much harder to meet tree replacement rates or possibly not meet its own imposed requirements (who is watching for compliance?).

More than $20,000 was taken from a landfill part-time position? So, who will do this work now, regular employees at overtime rates? Is this a savings?

I'm really disappointed that council thinks the smoke and mirrors can fool us, and yet, we will still be required to pay ....

Nick Ritter
Kincardine
 

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To the Editor:

When I moved to Kincardine 50 years ago, the yearly municipal tax bill for my home covered my use of water, sewer and garbage disposal.

Now, water, sewer and garbage are billed and paid separately from the annual home tax bill. In truth, they are still taxes that we are required to pay.

Also, and sadly, this very large bag tag tax increase will be felt the most by our Kincardine citizens who are struggling to make a living.

Mary Lou Franklin
Kincardine