Grey County Council has made a commitment to a zero tax increase in 2010.
That could mean some tough decisions for councillors in their upcoming budget deliberations.
But West Grey Mayor Kevin Eccles — the Chair of the Grey County’s finance and personnel committee — says a zero tax increase is a viable goal.
The committee recently approved a motion to have county staff work toward the goal, a motion that was in turn approved on Tuesday by county council.
Eccles says it’s possible because the province has uploaded certain costs from municipalities, like social services.
That’ll be a huge benefit to Grey, which has been paying those costs.
It doesn’t specifically help lower-tier municipalities, which are facing budget and tax increases because of a reduction in the amount of transfer payments they receive from the province.
But a zero tax increase at the county will reduce the impact on ratepayers in general.
For instance, Owen Sound is looking at a six per cent budget hike.
But a zero tax increase in Grey County will result in only a three per cent tax increase for city taxpayers.