NEED WINTER TIRES?
35 Howard Avenue, ELMIRA, ON
519-669-3232
WE’VE GOT YOUR TIRES!
01 | 21 | 2016 VOLUME 21 | ISSUE 03
STRONG EFFORT SEES KINGS NET A PAIR OF WINS SPORTS PAGE 9
COMMENT PAGE 6
BETTER THINKING KEY TO DEALING WITH INFRASTRUCTURE
Region jacks taxes by 2.94% in approving 2016 budget
www.OBSERVERXTRA.com
KIDS PUT SOME HEART INTO HOCKEY
LIZ BEVAN TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS WILL BE seeing a 2.49 per cent increase in the regional portion of their property tax bills this year under a budget approved last week by Waterloo Region council. The figure is slightly lower than the 2.94 per cent increase – 2.27 per cent for regional services, and 0.67 per cent allocated for police – given the lower level of services outside of the cities. At 2.94, the increase adds $54 to the average household tax bill; the region uses an assessment value of $302,000, though the average is higher in Woolwich by another $40,000. Coun. Sean Strickland, the region’s budget committee chair for the region, says the budget isn’t just aimed at residents in larger centers like Waterloo and Kitchener. “There are roads projects in Woolwich Township and the water and wastewater is a big one for all the residents in the region,” he said. “I think our budget over 10 years is over $1 billion. There are big investments continuing. We have been spending lots of money on water and wastewater, and of course, our roads system with upgrading and putting in new roads is a part of the budget as well.” Regional staff had initially approached the budget negotiation REGION | 2
The Woolwich Wildcats #3 team made it to the finals of the Woolwich Cup Challenge on Jan. 17, eventually losing 6-1 to the Beverly Bandits. [WHITNEY NEILSON / THE OBSERVER]
Woolwich will need millions to repair its bridges Report shows the township will need to find more than $7 million for projects in the next five years
STEVE KANNON WITH EXPENSIVE REPAIR BILLS soon coming due and little money to pay for them, Woolwich council got a dollars-and-cents lesson in the cost of failing infrastructure. The township is facing $9.1 million in repair costs over the next 10 years just to deal with its aging bridges and culverts. That figure
jumps to $17.2 million if it wants to replace its three deteriorating steel-truss bridges, one of which has already been closed, rather than trying to rehabilitate them. Required by the province to inspect bridge structures – bridges and culverts – every two years, the township last year had an engineering consultant determine the state of its BRIDGES | 2
NEW YEAR ! NEW ROOM FOR EVERY ROOM OF THE HOUSE
2018!
YOUR CHOICE $999 Sofa & Loveseat or 2pc Sectional
OPEN 7 DAYS | 30 Benjamin Rd., Waterloo (across from St. Jacobs Outlet Mall) 519-746-0060 | FLYER SPECIALS www.funiturehouse.ca