CINDY'S LAW PAGE
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PAGE LINCS WIN HOME-AND-HOME Thursday, October 24, 2024
St. Marys Independent
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St. Marys Independent 36 Water St. S., St. Marys ON | 519.284.0041 | info@stmarysindependent.com | www.stmarysindy.com
Issue #1234
Thursday, October 24, 2024
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St. Marys staff introduce “boring” draft 2025 budget with 5.83 per-cent levy increase
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Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
cause it allows a stable funding source for things like roads, bridges, all sorts of infrastructure,” Mayor Al Strathdee told the Independent. “So, it's a really important program and we are very appreciative of this kind of funding because it allows us to plan long term. “The reality is we're trying to catch up, just like every other municipality in the country. We were aware that the amount that we were going to receive was less, I just don't think
As municipalities across the province continue to struggle with rising costs and provincial downloading leading to double-digit tax-levy increases, St. Marys council has officially started deliberations over what town staff call a “boring budget” that comes with just a 5.83 per-cent overall levy increase. On Oct. 15, earlier in the year than most municipalities in the area begin their budget deliberations, St. Marys council hosted its first 2025 budget meeting, during which town CAO Brent Kittmer and treasurer André Morin presented a budget with a nearly $15.8-million proposed tax levy, up by nearly $869,000 over last year’s tax burden. Adjusted for growth, which amounted to an addition of $228,000 to the tax base in 2024, the proposed 2025 tax levy is just over $640,700 or 4.24 per cent more than last year’s adjusted tax levy. “At the staff level, we pride ourselves in trying to be as predictable and regular as we can and that doesn’t manifest itself more than it does in our budget process,” Kittmer said. “This year again, I believe we’ve put forward a budget for you that … (is) a boring, fairly predictable budget that delivers the service levels that council has asked us to deliver.
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SPORTS WALL OF FAME UNVEILED
(SPENCER SEYMOUR PHOTO)
On Saturday, Oct. 19, the Town of St. Marys officially unveiled its new Sports Wall of Fame at the Pyramid Recreation Centre. The wall is located in the lobby of the PRC and along with the unveiling of the wall itself, the ceremony also included an induction ceremony for six inductees, including three players, two builders, and one team. Turn to page 21 for more wall of fame photos.
St. Marys gets slightly less provincial infrastructure funding this year, fluctuation not a surprise
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CONNOR LUCZKA Independent Correspondent
Annual provincial funding for infrastructure has been announced and local municipalities are by and large getting similar amounts this year compared to last year. Through the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF), the Town of St. Marys is receiving $539,940 compared to last year's $597,536. “The OCIF is really important to us be-
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