The following was received from Gravenhurst Councillor Lola Bratty:
The town council is grappling with the 2011 budget and difficult decisions.
Here is what is happening:
The old council left us with a 1.5 million dollar increase in costs, most of it debt servicing and non reducible. This represents almost 15% of the taxes raised last year
This means that the operational budgets are being carefully reviewed for savings and changes of direction.
The current council is committed to getting meaningful public input and wants to hear from not only the year round residents, but also the seasonal residents who pay most of the taxes.
To achieve this 2 special public meetings have been set up, one on a Saturday so that seasonal residents can attend.
The Gravenhurst website home page takes you to this notice of the public meetings
http://gravenhurst.ca/municipal-services/public-meetings
Here is the notice
These Special Council Meetings have been scheduled to invite the
Public to attend and provide input to the
2011 Operational and Capital Budget
Monday March 21st, 2011 - 12:00 p.m.
Saturday March 26th, 2011 – 1:00 p.m.
Meetings will be held at 3-5 Pineridge Gate in the Council Chambers.
A copy of the budget is available here.
Please plan on contributing to the input. We need to hear your voice. Also if possible please notify your membership as they too might want to attend.
Alternatively there is a page within the budget document through which the public can contribute comments.
Many thanks
Lola Bratty
