A 5.9 per cent tax hike? When the federal government is slashing interest rates and taxes, when corporations are laying off people due to the recession, which is almost a depression; for those who cannot find a job or pay their taxes, is this the time to go on a spending spree?

When everywhere else they are laying people off, is this the time for a  27 per cent increase in the leisure services budget, a 12 per cent hike for the fire department, a 10 per cent increase to the administration budget, a library grant of 15 per cent and 13 new staffing positions?

The leisure services department wants to hire five new people and the information technology department wants more staff.  Building permits are down and now is not the time to do all of the above.

Please Mr. Mayor and council members, remember that the staff proposing the budget may not live in town.  The 5.9 per cent increase should be decreased to 3.9 per cent.  Please tighten your belts and reduce. As US president elect Barak Obama says, “Yes we can.”

Steve Pliakes

Whitchurch-Stouffville

Categories: Letters to the Editor
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