Grey Highlands Mayor Brian Mullin wants to keep the property tax increase below 10 per cent for 2010.
It is a major challenge, since the province is slashing the town’s Ontario Municipal Partnership funding by 400 thousand dollars.
That alone Mullin says will mean a hike of nearly 9 per cent.
At the same time, the OPP contract is up and they are looking at an extra 300 thousand dollars in 2010 for policing, meaning the overall increase in taxes is closing in on 20 per cent.
Grey Highlands staff have been told to look at all scenarios to try and trim back spending.
Mayor Mullin says it may involve new or increased user fees for services or a cut in services.
For example, he says if more recycling is done they could cut garbage collection to every two weeks to save cash.
Staff will return to council in February with some new numbers.
Mullin hopes they can at least get the tax hike under 10 per cent, and if the County rate is low then the overall impact on taxpayers will be more acceptable.