Here is a letter to the editor from Lydia Smith:
To the editor:
Re: Cobourg taxpayers association holds budget protest rally outside Victoria Hall, news, April 28
In this article it states: Responding to a CTA press release that said taxpayers should “brace themselves for next year” should the 2016 budget be approved, “which shows (the Town) plans to grow property taxes by a staggering $4.5 million or 20 per cent in 2017”, Cobourg Mayor Gil Brocanier said this is not the case.
75 Upset Taxpayers Protest the Town Tax Increase of 2.7%
A capacity crowd of upset taxpayers packed the Council chambers to watch as the 2016 tax budget was passed with virtually no changes since the March 31, 2016 budget meeting. Prior to the meeting, 75 people protested the tax increase outside of Victoria Hall.
The Cobourg Taxpayers Association (CTA) will be holding a Budget Protest Rally on April 25th starting at 6:00 p.m. outside Victoria Hall so taxpayers can voice their disapproval of the 2.7% increase in 2016 municipal taxes and numerous unnecessary expenses in the Operating and Capital Budgets.
The CTA has done an analysis of the upcoming budget to suggest a few key areas that might lend themselves to further questions and analysis on the Capital and Operating Budgets. By asking these questions and turning down these requests for increased spending, we believe Council can bring in a zero tax increase.
We are calling on Council to approve a zero tax increase budget for 2016.
In a letter addressed yesterday to the Mayor and members of Council, CTA President Lydia Smith asked that they show leadership by instructing staff to produce a 2016 Town budget resulting in no increase in the municipal portion of property taxes that citizens pay.
