This ran in the KW Record, March 2009… comments invited below

She wanted council to cut spending, not raid reserves to lessen the increase to help hard-pressed homeowners and businesses.

“I feel we are taking money from reserves to cut the tax rate to make us look good,” Whetham said. Council was wrong to add things like a $99,000-a-year public relations officer or $65,000 for flowers in Queen’s Square to the budget in hard times. She was the only councillor to vote against the $88 million spending plan last night.

Council was prudent in trying to balance community needs and fiscal reality, other councillors said.

The public relations officer won’t start work until fall, saving half of the cost, said Coun. Ben Tucci. Trees, benches and paving stones will complete renovations to a showpiece area, said Coun. Pam Wolf.

The city budget approval means taxes are going up $75 on a home with an assessed value of $203,000. The city’s share of the increase is $20. Half comes from Waterloo Region and the remainder from the provincial education tax levy.

The region has already passed a tax increase of 3.15 per cent. The education tax rate likely won’t be set until April.

link to story

http://news.therecord.com/article/497000

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