The Paris Independent
4
January 13, 2024
COMMUNITY NEWS Mayor Bailey bracing for a tough fiscal year By Casandra Turnbull
as 1.81%.
Despite the hurdles ahead, Mayor Bailey does have a few projects It’s going to be a tough year ahead “It’s all about the money, he’d like to see move forward this as council manages a balancing act budgeting and cutting back. It’s year. between fiscally sound decisions going to be a big hit to the and desperately needed services and “I would like to get some clarity on taxpayers and we’re going to infrastructure. the Bawcutt Centre/Main Library. have to make some pretty Whatever the decision is there, I Mayor David Bailey hopes council harsh decisions,” said Bailey. would like to see it have a plan and will weather the storms and a journey this year,” said Bailey, “It’s too bad; we’ve always continue to remain respectful and been really sustainable, but adding the bottom line will come united as they enter what he says these development charges down to money and while ‘the will be a tough fiscal year. marriage of the Bawcutt Centre and have sent us reeling.” The Official Plan was a big focus of Library makes sense, only so if the 2023 and Mayor Bailey predicts it county can afford it,’ said Bailey. will also occupy a lot of discussion Continued on page 5 It’s not just the downloaded in 2024 as council will need to work provincial fees the county has to through the OP again to adjust for contend with, there’s also a race to decisions made by the province, keep up with infrastructure concerns specifically with respect to, Bill 23 and shortfall in community services Build More Homes Faster Act. and programs for the growing Several new development fee population. discounts and exemptions are now applicable through the Planning Act Decades worth of decisions are and this loss in municipal revenue, starting to come to head now. some of which was already Bailey cited Rest Acres Road as a earmarked through the OP and perfect example – construction was various Long-Term plans to support approved in 2003 to 2005, and community projects, will fall on we’re just feeling the effects of local taxpayers by way of higher those decisions now. property taxes. There are also some large scale Budget deliberations began on projects on the horizon that are Thursday, and the recommended coming to head during a critical increase to the average residential time, namely the $130 million tax levy is 10.5%. That figure is not investment the county must yet approved, but it’s significantly contribute towards the higher than the last few years. In renovations/rebuild at the Brantford 2023 taxpayers saw a 5.8% General Hospital, as well a new increase, and in 2022 it was as low Main Branch Library in Paris.
