Windsorites may benefit from tax freeze

By Rhiannon Lotze

Many Windsorites seem to be pleased with Windsor City Council’s decision to hold the line on property taxes for 2015.

This is the seventh year in a row the city has made the decision to freeze property taxes. Windsor City Council made a final decision on the budget on Jan. 19. They invited members of the public and business owners to attend the meeting as a delegation and provide input about the 2015 budget. Ultimately it was decided to hold the line on taxes.

So far, it appears some Windsorites are pleased with the announcement.

“It will be good for you,” said Don Bulley, a resident and taxpayer of Windsor, who does part-time security work. He also said he believes 2015 will be a good year for Windsor in terms of employment because Dilkens is looking to expand the bus system to other areas around Windsor. “Without them (buses), we’re stuck here.”

The tax freeze benefits more than just taxpayers.

“It might be better for people that just can’t afford certain things,” said Samantha Tweedle, a first year student in St. Clair College’s travel and tourism program. Tweedle also said she belongs to a low income family and no increase on taxes will be beneficial.

There are benefits to the community as a whole as well, rather than just to individual families.

“It might be a draw to bring new people to move here to try saving on taxes,” Kevin Blondin, a travel and tourism student at St. Clair College said. Blondin believes Windsor’s community might grow with the freeze on property taxes. He also said he personally benefits from the city holding the line on taxes because the money he is saving can go towards paying his tuition.

While Windsorites may benefit from taxes remaining the same, there are also some concerns the community will be negatively affected.

“There might not be as big of a budget to spend on new projects and not as big of a budget to put a little extra money into projects that need it,” said Brittany Brosseau who works at Kumon Math and Reading Centres. Brosseau pays taxes to the City of Windsor.

While this is the seventh year that Windsor has held the line on property taxes, Mayor Drew Dilkens has voiced concerns that it’s becoming harder to do every year and it may not be possible come 2016.