High hopes for Windsor council’s recent tax freeze decision

By David Dyck

Windsor City Council’s recent decision to hold the line on taxes again will continue its progression

towards infrastructure repair throughout the city.

 

With $41 million of the $98 million of the city’s budget being spent on repairing roads and the hopes of

new businesses being enticed by Windsor’s seven-year record tax-freeze, a lot of trust is being placed in

this year’s budget.

 

Roads continue to remain a concern for taxpayers. Angelo Marignani, the owner of the Milk Coffee Bar,

said he would like to see more beautification of the public space.

 

“Look at the road, the road is convoluted …we have an infrastructure deficiency right now that needs

to be addressed or else it’s going to be a serious problem,” said Marignani who also said by improving

homes, families will be encouraged to move to the area. “By improving the public space, you improve

the public life.”

 

Marignani said he believes the city is growing but at a slow rate.

 

“We’ve got two new businesses coming across the street. Fantastic, that’s what we want to see. What

we don’t want to see is dead zones, nothing open, nothing going on.”

 

On the other hand, these opinions are not shared by Ward 9 Councillor Hilary Payne.

According to Payne, the city remains the same size in population as it did over 30 years ago when

he first arrived here as an immigrant. But with Windsor holding the line on taxes, he said he believes this

will encourage new businesses to settle in Windsor. He also said the decision should leave many

people happy and with many residents living below the average income, something like this should help.

 

But Payne does not believe Windsor should try the same next year.

 

“The problem is that when you hold the line for so many years, your infrastructure begins to suffer and

it is,” said Payne. “If you decide to spend no money on your house for seven to 10 years, you’re going to

pay more down the road.”

 

Payne said taxes should be increased next year by a two-to-three per cent increase.

 

Raymond Fairley, a retired quality controller for the Ford Motor Company, shared similar opinions. He

said he would rather see the mayor increase taxes marginally each year than to do it in one “fell swoop

somewhere down the road with a huge tax increase.”

 

“I think our past mayor did an amazing job …fixing things that needed to be fixed,” said Fairley. “The

present mayor is going to follow in his footsteps and if he does, he will get things

done.”