the town of roughly 30,000 full-time and seasonal residents was told its policing bill would jump by 37 per cent next year, which would require a roughly five per cent property tax hike, hamlin said.
“we’re going to get to not proceeding with projects that are on the books or potentially cutting services,” she said. “but there’s certain services (that can’t be cut). if you’re in a snow belt, you’re not cutting your snow plowing.”
some municipalities said they still haven’t received clear answers regarding their bills. they were told to tune into a provincewide webinar that would break down the policing costs and how they were allocated, but the presentation was then cancelled, they said.
“it’s just hard when this drops on our lap a month before budget,” bondy said. “we really feel like the province should step up and help us with these costs.”
‘there was no consultation.’ sherry bondy, mayor of the town of essex, is shown at the former harrow high school on feb. 15, 2024.
dan janisse
/
windsor star
still, conversations between municipalities and the province continue, and many said they hoped a solution would be announced before they went too deep in the budgeting process.
“i’m confident that … the province will do the right thing,” said cathy miller, mayor of the township of pelee, a lake erie island community of roughly 230 whose opp costs are set to jump by 107 per cent next year.