The City of Weyburn has put forward its budget for the 2012, which will have a zero-per-cent increase in property taxes as it's proposed, or a one-per-cent tax increase as some of city council would have it.
With four councillors out of seven voicing a wish for a one-per-cent tax increase, the budget was tabled for two weeks to enable the public to have a say about whether the taxes should be kept at the same level as in 2011, or if there should be an increase.
Mayor Debra Button expressed puzzlement over why councillors would seek a tax increase in a year when it isn't needed, particularly when all taxpayers will be paying more already with a $140 levy for the proposed acute-care hospital for Weyburn starting this year.
In most past years, councillors are struggling to keep spending down and keep a tax increase to the barest minimum, because no one wants an increase.
The problem is that those on a limited or low income will already be struggling with handling the normal level of property taxes and the $140 hospital levy; how are they going to handle another increase to their taxes above that?
The other problem is that city administration is already putting in a nine-per-cent spending increase, and there will be $1.2 million put aside into reserves. All areas of the city will be financed as per normal, with some projects for public works and parks held over from last year due to flooding, plus damages caused by flooding also needing to be repaired.
The question could be turned back on council, then: why a nine-per-cent increase? Why could not taxpayers see a tax decrease for once? Has that ever happened in city history?
Perhaps it would be historical - but considering there is an extra levy that will be costing everybody $140 a year, why not consider a decrease? Just because there was an increase in funds, does it all have to be spent? Could not some of those funds help ease the tax burden on property owners?
It's a given that expenses go up, including wage increases and the cost of equipment and services - but is a full nine-per-cent required, or could the city take a year or two to catch up on some of those repairs caused by last year's flooding? Weyburn is indeed in a fortunate position of higher revenues - so let's take some thought on how best to use them.
