Bruce Grey Owen Sound MPP Bill Murdoch is warning property tax payers they will be in for a shock next year.
The local Tory MPP says Queens park is looking at cuts to municipal transfer payments, and the result will be a hefty hike in property taxes of anywhere from 5 to 20 percent in 2010, just to maintain services.
Bill Murdoch says 11 municipalities in Grey and Bruce will be facing major shortfalls next year.
In Bruce, five municipalities are facing a combined tax reduction of 2 million dollars.
In Grey, six out of nine municipalities are facing major losses that could see as much as 5 million dollars wiped off their balance sheets next year.
In Question Period this week to Minister Jim Watson, Murdoch urged the minister to stand up for the municipalities and keep the top-up fund for at least one more year.
Murdoch says the McGuinty Liberals are looking for anyway they can to reduce that record 24.7 billion dollar deficit announced yesterday by Finance Minister Dwight Duncan.
Ontario Conservative Leader Tim Hudak tells Bayshore Broadcasting news, rural property tax payers should be concerned.
He thinks residents should put pressure on their local MPP’s, any nearby Liberal MPP and the Premier, to try and stop this funding squeeze on municipalities.