Bracebridge raises taxes by 2.92 per cent

BRACEBRIDGE - The Town of Bracebridge will be increasing its property tax rate by 2.92 per cent in 2012.

Council formally passed its 2012 budget in a special council meeting on March 6. For a home assessed at $200,000, that translates to about a $22 increase in municipal taxes. Council had done much of the legwork on the budget at a general committee meeting two weeks earlier, where councillors spent nine hours debating a large range of items, from the town’s telephone system to pool toys.

Mayor Graydon Smith lauded the efforts of council and staff in trimming costs to keep the increase low. “It balances the town’s needs for services and infrastructure with the economic reality that taxpayers are facing,” he said. “I am very pleased with the approved budget and also that we have accomplished so much while keeping the tax increase to a minimum.”
Highlights of the budget include a plan to build a new fire hall and paramedic station on Taylor Road. In September, it was announced that the anticipated $610,000 cost would be divided 50-50 between the District of Muskoka and the town.

Capital roads projects were also accounted for in the budget, including projects on Woodchester Avenue, Old Falkenburg Road, Ziska Road, Alice Street, Maple Street, Dudley Drive and Sander Drive.

Council also accounted for the cost of bridge work. One involves an $855,000 plan to replace McCutcheon Bridge in Vankoughnet, a stone bridge which brings Lambert Road over the Black River.

Another is an environmental assessment for a bridge over Stephenson Road 1, which is high on the town’s priority list for replacement. Though originally estimated to cost the town $80,000, the town is anticipating that the cost will be reduced as the Town of Huntsville has agreed to pitch in half of the money.

A number of recreational costs also played a factor. In addition to funds for ongoing upgrades to Annie Williams Park, the town has a number of upgrades at Kerr Park slated, including repairs to the baseball diamond and chalet, and the demolition of a rental house. The town is also purchasing a new ice resurfacer for Memorial Arena.

While council originally wanted to keep $2,200 in the budget for a group cycling program, the idea was eventually scrapped as council debated whether the service would be duplicating similar programs already offered in area gyms. “I don’t think that we should be tramping on the toes of the private sector,” said Coun. Mark Quemby.