Lower dog tag prices..20.00 in Leamington, 15.00 in Amherstburg and 10.00 if you are over 55!!!
Why are Leamington residents paying more, this is just one fee that is higher than other areas. Property taxes are another matter. The mayor admitted this several months ago and it seems it is now put to sleep.
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L. Young commented
Re: Corporate services reply
In your reply you neglected to address a reduced fee for seniors such as Amhersburg's $10.00 for a spayed animal. I don't call this average as you have mentioned. Does Leamington not believe its seniors deserve consideration as well.These ever increasing prices for permits, taxes etc. are one more reason Leamington's population is declining
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L. Young commented
John no disrespect intended.....I have lived in Leamington all my life and am looking to relocate . Kingsville is only a short drive away from Leamington and its amenities as some of Leamington's employees and administration that have located there also know. For the tax savings, Kingsville is very attractive and many Leamington residents are relocating because of this. Don't get me wrong John, Leamington will always in my heart...but now it is taking too much from my pocket book. Its a shame watching Leamington decline.
Stores continue to close... Do you not think high taxes, permits have anything
to do with this! Of course you can hold taxes less than 1% each year, they are already at least 30% higher for some residents. John take a good look at this once beautiful community, take a walk around town, look at the empty stores, talk to the residents and ask yourself why this is happening? -
Mayor John Paterson commented
Larry......if you are following the news you can see where low fees and low taxes have taken some municipalities and it is not in a very good direction. The $ 20 dog tag fee is just enough to cover the actual cost of issuing the license and help offset some of the cost of Animal Control services. If we lower the fee, you and I as taxpayers will simply cover the balance in our property taxes.
In regard to taxes, while Leamington's are higher than many in Essex County, our infrastructure (81.4%) assets are ranked good to excellent. (See the Windsor Star August 9 2013 Monica Wolfson "Low Taxes mean less money for asset renewal)
Leamington ranks best overall in Windsor/Essex County while those municipalities to which you refer with lower taxes have a huge hill to climb to repair their roads, sewers, sidewalks, waterlines and more. Sooner or later someone has to pay, and I don't envy that taxpayers of those municipalities when that bill comes due. As well, when comparing taxes you really need to consider services and amenities. Most of the municipalities in Essex County do not offer what Leamington does for its ratepayers.
For our first 3 years in this 4 year term, Council has held tax increases to less than 1% each year and we hope to do the same in 2014. Every other municipality in the County has raised there taxe rate by 3% or more in each of those years. We are doing what we can to hold the line without jeopardizing the services demanded by our taxpayers. Mayor Paterson.