A Taxing Discussion

A 31.5 million dollar expected budget shortfall for next year,  is going to be a tough one for the city to manage. The city may not receive the $16.5 million it was hoping to receive from the province to assist with the costs of social assistance. 

While city council voted to keep property tax increases to 2% or less, Rob Rossini (Finance Manager, and may I add, an old high school friend of mine), warns that that goal is almost impossible without provincial aid. See story here  

If the city receives provincial funding, property taxes will have to climb by 4.4 per cent to balance the budget and maintain current service levels. Without the province's $16.5 million, homeowners would face a 8.4 per cent increase. Service cuts are also on the table. What are your thoughts? Where and how can we find efficiencies and savings? What services can you live without or can you agree to reduce? How much of this can we really fend off? Or should we brace ourselves for a "tax attack"?