Budget adopted in Dollard

BY RAFFY BOUDJIKANIAN

raffy.boudjikanian@transcontinental.ca

Dollard des Ormeaux homeowners that are trying to figure where an average property tax increase of 3.84 per cent is coming from can look at the agglomeration council, since the town itself is not increasing taxes, according to Mayor Ed Janiszewski.

"It's very comparable to last year," Janiszewski said of his town's $35.3 million 2008 budget adopted last week. "It's two per cent higher," he explained.

The mill rate for single-family homes in Dollard is 52 cents per $100 of valuation, and homeowners will pay $220 a year in water taxes.

The biggest chunk of the budget, about $10.3 million, will be allocated to leisure and culture, which Janiszewski said is normal for Dollard. "It's always the most expensive (section,)" the mayor said, due maintenance and operation of the town's two arenas, swimming pool, cultural centre and library.

Transport, administration and debt payments will claim $6.4, $6 and $6.1 million respectively, and environmental hygiene $4.6 million. The remainder of the budget will be divided between public security and urban development.