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WHlTCHURCH-STOUFFVlLLE PUBLIC LIBRARY -'li'ib une THURSDAY, JAN.31, 2008 I SERVING THE COMMUNITY OF WHITCHURCH-STOUFFVILLE I 24 PAGES/$1 INCLUDING GST MUSBLING UP ON ‘ Stoufiville Lions celebrating lim Thomas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 (loming Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . l 8 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 STAFF PHOTO/SJOERD WITTFVE E N Keswick’s Dean Crandon, a national body building champion, talks with students at Glad Park Public School during literacy events Friday. See page 14 for more. 9 5.9% TAX HIKE MEANS $56 MORE FOR AVERAGE WHlTCHURCHâ€"STOUFFVILLE HOMEOWNER IN 2008 Lack of industry spells debt in town budget BY HANNELORE VOLPE Staff Writer This is the first year the town of Whitchurchâ€"Stouffville is going into debt to complete ambitious new projects. Out of the SHâ€"per-cent munici- pal tax increase approved by WhitchurchStouffville council 'l‘uesday. 3.] per cent is due to the debt financing. Many of the new projects are to ls(‘(‘}) up with the needs ofa rapidly- u’mk Ila/hm” HR f-‘sandttont lit llntl ‘t HEW-m www Mthutn m increasing population. Unpreceâ€" dented residential growth has seen the budget go from a little more than $10 million in 2005 to $48.3 million this year. The $3.3 million debt will cover costs associated with the new fire hall. to be located olTWeldon Road behind Sobeys. and for Main Street widening and other improvements. The fire hall is expected to cost around$l5million,whilethe Main Street improvements will come to about $1.8 million. Discount RATES without discount SERVICE. ‘l‘he tax rate could have been even lower if the town's industrial and commercial developments were more mature, (louncillor Ken Ferdinands said. "l think we have a gap between industrial and commercial devel- opment and residential develop, ment." he added. “l am hoping that 200%) will shape up better." He cited the anticipated arrival of businesses such as Rona at the Hoover Park Plaza. the new auto mall on Hwy. 48 and more com Jon St Denis, Agent '. , M)” ‘t' y A Sandy Mnckamie Ins chy Int: mercial and industrial develope merit coming in (iormley. 'l'hat type of development doesn't require a lot of services and provides "flexibility and relief from a property tax standpoint," he said. Whitchurch~Stouffvi|le's tax rate does, however, compare favourably to that of similar municipalities. such as tieorgina, whose residents pay more than twice as much as Whitchurch Stoulfville residents for their municipal taxes, .\lr. l'er dinands said. l'he debt is arriving at year later than forecast in the town's fiscal impact study prepared by Watson (\‘1 Associates in 2005. Delays with the York l)urh.'un trunk sewer led to delays in resi dential construction and the need for facilities. Whitchurchbtoiil'l'x'ille count ll approved the new tax increase (llll ing the budget talks for the fitttltt operating and capital budgets and \t'l I'll“! SIAI! (ADM ‘yllltit t,‘r'v I’ll ®® INSUIAN(I ® Barlhau a? ewellers 5312 Main St. Stouflville (905) 640-4646