Quinte West council lowers expected tax increase
BELLEVILLE– Quinte West residents are getting a lower than expected tax increase at 2.2 percent. That’s down from the March 21 proposal of 2.44 percent.
This is the first time in the city’s history that the tax increase has been the same across all four wards. In Trenton ward, the new tax increase will mean homeowners now have to pay an extra $4.82 per month. In Sidney and Murray wards the increased dollar amount is $4.33 and in Frankford it’s $4.39.
It took 15 minutes for Quinte West council to finalize its budget Monday.
“I’m fine with what they’ve done. We’ve shaved a little off the top and I think we can meet the needs of our programs,” said Quinte West mayor Jim Harrison.
Quinte West council had budgeted $100,000 for the Cinema on the Trent film festival but last week they decided to lower the funding for the festival to $25,000. That left an extra $75,000 in the budget. Staff suggested they use the extra money to do an environmental assessment on the Leopold Centre, which is the proposed site for a residential hospice in Trenton.
Council didn’t make a decision on that issue.
As for the decision to take money away from the film festival, Harrison said, “the majority of council feel that we should start with something small and work up.”
“There’s still room in there if somebody comes to us with a really good proposal and there is some way that we can and should be supporting it, council can look at it.. We did put money in reserves, so if there is something that comes up that’s really worthwhile, they’ll have to look at how they want to fund it,” Harrison said.
Harrison said some major projects for the city include improvements to roads and working on the Trent Port Marina, which is well ahead of schedule.
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