Sing A Song of Sixpence ...A Pocket Full of Rye.

This year's  taxes will increase  by 3.75 % over  last

The actual increase in spending amounts to  $1,256,750.

Starting with  half million to "purchase" culture,   $70 thousand with no return, to the Historical Society, it's not hard to see how topsy grows.

3.75% in tax increase does not reflect actual increase in spending.

More homes, business and multiple residential buildings produce more revenue.

The increase in revenue is also swallowed in the greedy maw

Despite  the effort to  protect the administration from political interference ,certain situations were observed.

A senior planner, expert on the Oak Ridge Moraine Act,  was transferred to the Chief Administrator's Office and given responsibility as " special project manager"

First task  was a lengthy report on economic benefit of planting trees,

It's a long one.  Probably  took weeks to research and write . Told us nothing  we hadn't known for the last forty years,if not forever.

The report is posted on the town's web site.

Go  see  what you  got .

$25,000  was spent on a consultant study of the crazy heritage theme park,  The special project manager  was in charge of that special project  Produced  reams of reports on the merits  and clearly spent  much  valuable time on the matter.

A job of senior treasury clerk  of twenty -six  years was  re-organized to vanish   into the new customer service division.   A severance package would be six figures . Nothing to show.  Apart from gross injustice.

Customer  service staff  are now  seen at the town hall in the evenings doing the  treasury clerk
work.

Customer Service was adopted with a guarantee it would not cost more.

In the past, the Bylaw prohibiting overnight parking passed in October  was immediately enforced.

$75 .fines were issued.  They encouraged homeowners to make sure cars were not  parked on the road when snow plows came by.

Snow  clearing is not what it once was .

A phone  call to bylaws promises a return call within 48 hours. Doesn't always happen.

The bylaw force grows  but not ,it seems,  after hours  and week-end service.

This year's budget includes $220,000. for grants  and or loans to property owners within an exclusive area to encourage property  repairs and renovations.

Properties may even be relieved  the  burden of taxation.

More staff won't be needed this year . But next year there will be a need to man the new granting and lending institution at the town hall.

There will likely  be three; a manager, an administrative assistant and a clerk.

New space needs will be created. Renovation and addition to the town hall will once again be contemplated.

We spent $300, 000 on that last year.  Never happened.

Nothing to show.

Nil...nothing...nada...zilch  zero.

Just another  $300,000. expense in the ledger,  inflating the bottom line  of last year's expenditures and deflating the bottom line of this year's  tax increase.

Council presides in  total  solemnity, devoutly assured there is no possibility of reducing taxation.
and seemingly unable to comprehend the shifts and maneuvers.