Waiting for agglo

Pointe Claire may have to consider an unprecedented move with its 2010 budget, according to Mayor Bill McMurchie.

While his city is preparing its budget with plans to adopt it next Monday night, McMurchie said it is still waiting for its Montreal agglomeration bill.

“Our budget meeting may be postponed,” McMurchie told The Chronicle Monday, adding they are still waiting to hear the amount of their agglo bill. “We have to pay that bill. There is no discussion; we just have the privilege of paying it."

“If we can’t do it (table the 2010 budget) on Dec. 21, then it will be in the New Year,” he added.

If details of their agglo share are delivered in time and the amount is relatively stable from this year, McMurchie said it won’t be too difficult ironing out the final draft of Pointe Claire’s budget. However, if their agglo share increases drastically, it will give them more work and tougher choices to make.

If the agglo increase is formidable, McMurchie said his council will have to decide whether to pass on the tax hikes to its residents or try to keep tax bills stable by coming up with funds from cutting local services.

“Until we adopt the budget, I can’t say if local taxes will increase or not,” he said.

Meanwhile, Beaconsfield Mayor David Pollock stated Monday night that his city will only be adopting its 2010 budget in January due to the lack of information regarding its share of the agglomeration bill.

Traditionally, Pointe Claire adopts its budget in early to mid December. Even the Dec. 21 date is later than usual, McMurchie recalled.

The provincial government expects municipalities to adopt their budget before the end of December but it does grant extensions on a case by case basis.

Property owners in reconstituted municipalities on the Island of Montreal receive one municipal tax bill but it includes the amount they pay for regional services, like police and transport, handled by the agglomeration council headed by Montreal Mayor Gerald Tremblay. Each suburban homeowner receives one property tax bill from their respective city, with the amount going to the agglo clearly indicated. Roughly speaking, homeowners in reconstituted municipalities split their property taxes between the agglo and their local city.