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United Counties: mayors want zero tax increase
GREGG CHAMBERLAIN gregg.chamberlain@eap.on.ca
of Clarence-Rockland. The roads that the counties took over responsibility for will require some expensive upgrading work, creating an estimated $4.2 million bump to the capital works portion of the budget. Also, the previous counties council agreed that present and future county roads will have their shoulders paved to help make themmore bicycle-friendly. “If you don’t like that number,” St-Amour said to his fellow mayors, “we can always re-open the roads file.” St-Amour noted that the decision opens the discussion door for another look at fu- ture improvements to the Prescott-Russell Recreational Trail, among other issues. He expressed doubt that the UCPR can have a zero-per cent budget again this year. “I would say two per cent or less,” he said. Barton also noted that counties council is just at the start of its budget review process and all themayors need to read through the preliminary budget report first before they can make proper informed comments to staff about proposed operations and capital works costs. “I have to have a look at this,” he said. “There aremaybe things in there that could be cut.” “I would like to have more information too,” saidMayor Guy Desjardins, of Clarence- Rockland. The preliminary budget report proposed a four-per cent tax increase to the public
Counties staff have their marching orders from themayors representing all themuni- cipalities in Prescott-Russell. Find a way to keep the tax rate increase for this year’s counties budget at zero per cent again or at least hold the line at two per cent. “What would you like to see?,” Warden Robert Kirby asked his fellowmayors, after counties council received the preliminary draft of the 2015 budget during the January 14 committee of the whole session. “Ideally, I’d like to see zero per cent,” said Mayor Gary Barton of Champlain Township. His quick response was echoed all along the counties council table, though may- ors Fernand Dicaire of Alfred-Plantagenet Township and François St-Amour of The NationMunicipality allowed that repeating the past two year’s trend of a zero-per cent tax rate hike for the counties budget might be difficult, given some of the extra capital maintenance duties that the United Coun- ties of Prescott-Russell (UCPR) has taken on since last year. “It would be very hard to achieve,” St- Amour said, “since we downloaded the roads.” Mayor St-Amour referred to a decision that the previous counties council made to allow for a road exchange between the UCPR and the Town of Hawkesbury and the City
The mayors representing Prescott-Russell on the counties council made it plain they want no increase in the tax rate for this year’s counties budget.
levy to cover all the listed operational and capital works expenses for Prescott-Russell during 2015. Stéphane Parisien, UCPR chief administrator, told council that, even if the previous counties council had turned down the roads transfer deal withHawkesbury and Clarence-Rockland last year, the UCPR bud- get for this year would still need a two-per cent tax increase on the public levy to cover all the items listed in the preliminary report. Parisien told council that he and the de- partment heads just need specific direction from the mayors about their budget vision for the UCPR this year.
Counties council directed administra- tion to try and achieve a zero-per cent tax increase for the 2015 budget or at least limit any increase to two per cent. Administration will present a revised budget report to coun- ties council January 28. The goal is to have the 2015 budget approved bymid-February to allow the UCPR to get its public tenders out for bid early and take advantage of the cheaper bidding from many construction and supply outfits at the beginning of the year. The UCPR has until the end of April to adopt its final property tax rates schedule
Rockland man charged with drinking and driving
Après 59 ans de loyaux services, la Bijouterie Desjardins ferme ses portes.
of a domestic assault complaint froma resi- dence on Labonté Street in Clarence Creek. The woman filing the complaint told police her boyfriend assaulted her and also caused some damage inside the premises. The accused is scheduled for the February 11 provincial court session in L’Orignal on charges of spousal assault, spousal assault with a weapon, and domestic mischief. Domestic mischief Police arrested a 37-year-old man from Gatineau, QC, on a charge of domesticmis- chief following investigation of a complaint froma Champlain Street residence in Bour- get on January 16. The woman filing the complaint told police that her ex-partner caused some damage inside the premises. The accused is scheduled for the Febru- ary 4 provincial court session in L’Orignal. Vandalism A Limoges man faces charges after police investigated a disturbance complaint at the Lucky Seven Bar and Bistro in Embrun on January 18. Stéphane R. Bussière, 39, of Limoges, is charged under the Criminal Code with two counts of mischief under $5,000 value and
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GREGG CHAMBERLAIN gregg.chamberlain@eap.on.ca
A Rockland man has a provincial court date after Ground Hog’s Day next month. Michel Beauchamp, 50, of Rockland, is charged with having care and control of a motor vehicle while his blood-alcohol level exceeded 80milligrams.The charge resulted when police pulled over a vehicle at the corner of Laurier Street and Edwards Street in Rockland, on January 13. The police statement reads that the of- ficer noticed the smell of liquor and had the driver take a roadside screening test. A “Fail” reading resulted in a trip to the de- tachment for a breathalyzer test, which the driver also failed. Beauchamp is scheduled for the February 5 provincial court session in L’Orignal on the alcohol and driving charge. He is also charged with driving while his licence was suspended. Domestic assault A 48-year-old Ottawa man was arrested and charged following police investigation
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one count of creat- ing a disturbance. He is also charged under the provin- cial Liquor Act with public drunken- ness. He is scheduled for the February 18 provincial court ses- sion in L’Orignal.
Lucille Desjardins profite de l'occasion pour remercier sa fidèle clientèle.
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