8 Per Cent City Tax Hike Proposed

Sarnia's 2016 draft budget amounts to $133-million and calls for a tax increase of nearly 8 per cent. Budget documents were made public at city hall Friday morning. $68-million is to be raised through property taxes. The proposed 7.94 per cent increase, prior to any cuts, would add $65 per $100,000 of residential assessment to the municipal portion of the tax bill. Director of Finance Lisa Armstrong says wage and benefit increases account for nearly 5 per cent of the hike. [audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Lisa-3-year-of-correction.mp3"][/audio] There is a net increase of 1.3 people based largely on the recommended addition of two positions in information technology. There is no reduction in service levels in the draft budget. A 2016 capital budget of nearly $21-million is recommended including $3.5-million for Centennial Park remediation. It's recommended the regular cash transit fare remain at $2.75 but there are some increases proposed for passes and tickets including a hike of $1 to $46 for a sheet of 20. City council's budget deliberations are set for December 1.