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.
Director of Finance Lisa Armstrong presents the 2016 Draft Budget Report. October 30, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)
