Plans for Owen Sound’s budget for 2010 will be finalized at a special budget meeting tomorrow .
Plans for the 2011 financial document will begin at the same time.
The special meeting will help City staff and Council start the process of planning for another challenging year.
Director of Financial Services Wayne Ritchie estimates that tax increases of five to seven per cent could be the norm for the next three years.
City manager Jim Harrold notes as the province continues to reduce the amount of financial support it gives municipalities — the city’s costs increase due to salaries, benefits, utilities and other unavoidable factors.
Harrold says budget planning now must become a year-round activity.
Council has in the past devoted blocks of time to fiscal planning exercises like service analysis and pre-budget talks.
But Harrold feels that’s not going to be good enough in the future.
As for the 2010 budget, it’s expected to be passed at city council’s regular meeting on April 12th.
It includes a 6 per cent tax hike for the City — but combined with the County levy — the proposed tax hike is 3 per cent.