NewsNow E-Edition February 27 2020

Page 1

> Niagara Region approves “exploratory conversations” re WLMH funding /Pg 3 >WLM Auxiliary hosts fundraising dinner Pg 6 > Big Brothers/Sisters event rolls on Pg 7 > “Coldest Night” participants walk streets Pg 8 Thursday, February 27, 2020 Vol. 8 Issue 44

www.wn3.ca 100% Niagara owned & operated.

Proudly serving Grimsby, Lincoln, West Lincoln & Winona

Circ: 26,529

Grimsby considers historic tax increase By Mike Williscraft NewsNow Grimsby council has recommended an historic budget - complete with a 16.7 per cent increase on the local portion of residents’ tax bills - last week which included many firsts. Included among the firsts: • It could be the first time any council approved a budget with so high an increase; • It was the first time a council approved funding - $250,000 - for a door-to-door transportation system; • Council voted to hire permanent staff for communications and economic development for the first time; • After being obligated to a $2.5 million commitment to West Lincoln Memorial Hospital’s rebuild initiative more than two decades ago, council implemented a funding formula for those funds as well as the

additional $9.5 million which will be also needed in the new funding formula for the WLMH rebuild; • Council voted to hire new staff for an economic development officer for the first time, and; • A record level of $350,000 - ramped up by an additional $250,000 from its $100,000 2019 level - has been earmarked to support costs for the Town’s legal battles on planning matters. Very little was reduced from the budget presentation which came to council which initially proposed an 18.46 per cent increase on the Town portion. The updated budget document will come to council at its regular meeting next Monday, March 2 to be ratified. In voicing his support for many of the budget items, Coun. Randy

West Lincoln

Fire reserve sparks debate By Tristan Marks NewsNow Printers ran dry with motion after motion as West Lincoln council debated the 2020 capital and administrative budget at its Monday meeting, Feb. 24. After some raised voices and admitted confusion, council passed an amended budget with a total levy of just over $7.5 million, a 6.69 per cent hike on the municipal portion, or $76 on

an average assessed home of $382,000. The township’s Administration/Finance/ Fire Committee had previously recommended a 7.79 per cent increase, but debate got that lowered slightly. Coun. William Reilly, who had voted in favour of the initial premotion, asked council to pull that specific item for the Council to consider, as he had See BUDGET, Page 5

Good to give

Vaine noted the increase sounded like a lot more than it really is, if one just looks at the percentage hit on the Town portion. He has repeatedly stated the proposed percentage based on the combined property tax bill was much more modest. As noted, the Town portion increase is 16.7 per cent, while the overall combined increase - including Region and school board impacts - is 8.1 per cent or $352 on a home with an average assessment of $444,000. At several points in the threehour-plus meeting Coun. Lianne Vardy questioned council’s need to adopt all the items suggested in the budget outline. Vaine actually offered a motion to add another $40,000 item to revive the Town’s support of the Grimsby Gateway tourism kiosk, an initiative

George Prins knows the importance of giving. He has donated blood 200 times as of Feb. 14. Prins is pictured here with his grandson, Elijah Oliveira. For more on this story, see Page 13. Marks - Photo

which was cut by the Grimsby Economic Development Advisory Committee. The budget does include a $7,000 spend for some sponsorship at Gateway, but the reduction in support could prove catastrophic, according to project management. “I keep coming back to what we can afford,” said Vardy, noting there was no prioritization done in the document. “Everything in the budget is great, wonderful things. When I consider what is most important, this is not it. We have to make some reductions somewhere.” Other than a couple of minor items which were deferred to 2021’s budget, there were no changes. Vardy noted her concerns regarding the record-level tax increase See TAXES, Page 2


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
NewsNow E-Edition February 27 2020 by newsnow Niagara - Issuu