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ing priorities and re-figuring use of reserve funds, administration staff have cut the cap- ital expenses list down to $3.4 million. This would allow for critical bridge and road- work needs for the next year while post- poning some other suggested public works projects and equipment purchases until staff can find other funding sources, includ- ing any senior government infrastructure aid programs that may be part of the 2013 provincial or federal budgets. How much is Russell Township’s next budget? GREGG CHAMBERLAIN gregg.chamberlain@eap.on.ca
EMBRUN | With the end of year fast ap- proaching council members are still un- decided about what kind of a tax increase is acceptable for Russell Township’s 2013 budget. “We’ll try and stay at 3.91 per cent” said Mayor Jean-Paul St. Pierre towards the end of the latest public session on Nov. 28 in- volving the draft budget reviews. “I don’t like 3.91,” said Coun. Craig Cullen. He added that there should be some room in the current budget document and the township’s working fund reserve to al- low council to meet all priority needs for the municipality next year without having to raise the overall tax rate. The first draft budget report at the be- ginning of September suggested a five per cent increase in the property tax levy to meet projected operations and capital expenses for next year. Council members still hope to have the final 2013 budget ap- proved by mid-December this year. There may be a chance yet to keep the municipal tax levy below the four-percent mark and perhaps bring it even lower. Ad- ministration presented council members with a revised capital expenses list for the 2013 budget during their Dec. 3 committee of the whole session.
Fire station loan re-done
duced interest rate will mean a savings of $8,023.68 for the township’s annual bud- geting process during that period.
RUSSELL | The past re-fit for the village fire hall in Russell will cost the township a bit less than expected. Township council approved a resolution during its Dec. 3 special meeting to deal with refinancing of the loan for the Rus- sell fire hall. The original loan taken out in 2005 for $1.2 million has gone through two payment terms with the interest during the first term set at 4.41 per cent and during the second term at 3.32 per cent. The second term on the loan expired Dec. 4, 2012 with an outstanding balance remaining of $425,971.12. Township ad- ministration asked four area banks for pro- posals to re-finance the loan and the best offer came from RBC at 2.03 per cent over a three-year period. Administration reported to council that the loan should be paid off by the end of the three-year period. The payments come out of the general tax levy and the new re-
)!((ŏ+"ŏ#1%(0 EMBRUN | The nose knows and for one Russell man that means a visit to see the judge in provincial court be- fore Christmas. An OPP patrol along Route 500 near Forest Park in The Nation municipal- ity resulted in a speeding check stop. While talking to the driver, the officer noticed a funny-smelling smoke inside the vehicle. The 24-year-old driver now faces charges of possession of marijuana and also driving without a licence. He will answer to the charges during the Dec. 19 court session in L’Orignal.
The original list of capital projects and purchases included in the preliminary bud- get report projected $7.7 million in costs that helped add up to a potential five per cent tax increase. Following demands from council during the Nov. 28 review session for new spend- “We’ll try and stay at 3.91 per cent” - Mayor Jean-Paul St. Pierre about the possible tax increase .
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