To the editor:
Re: Clarington 2010 budget already raising angst, June 19.
After reading Jennifer Stone's excellent article on Clarington budget problems for next year it should raise concern for every citizen in Clarington.
The message has been sent to our politicians that no tax increase will be accepted next year.
Therefore our council needs to start working hard to overcome the financial house of cards that was built by our previous council when it came to financing indoor recreation.
Currently almost a third of our budget goes to indoor recreation and another third of our development fees go to pay the $41 million debt for indoor recreation. The average taxpayer cannot absorb the expected shortfall in development fees for this year as well as the wage increases, the new firefighters and on and on.
I believe our council can, if they work together, bring in a zero per cent increase like Markham did last year if they make the necessary cuts and privatize indoor recreation.
Drastic times call for drastic measures. Now is the time to see if our council is up to the task. Time will tell or the average citizen is going to look at a rather large increase this coming year when they can least afford it.
Paul Morgan
Clarington
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