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HOSPITAL Auxiliary donates $50,000 for regional MRI upgrade 3
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THE PICTON
Gazette
Volume 186, Week 50
THURSDAY
DECEMBER 15, 2016 Stars visit Wellington charity and for the love of the game
2017 operating budget narrowly passes in recorded vote after week of deliberations
Councillors approve increase in tax levy of 4.31 per cent
ADAM BRAMBURGER STAFF WRITER
See HOCKEY, page 23
CHAD IBBOTSON STAFF WRITER
The municipality is describing 2017 as a transitional year for its annual budget as staff work towards implementing financial sustainability priorities laid out in the new corporate strategic plan adopted by council this year. The 2017 operating budget was approved at $50,505,527 requiring a tax levy of $33,654,829 — an increase of about $1.39 million or 4.31 per cent over 2016. After factoring in real assessment growth of about $330,500, the increase would be about 3.25 per cent. This will result in an annual increase of about $28.52 for each $100,000 in assessed property value. However, residents' property tax rates will also be affected by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) update to current value assessments for all properties, which will take effect in 2017. The average home price in Prince Edward County is $268,808. The capital budget was approved in the amount of $11,560,568. Not all councillors were
HOCKEY NIGHT The NHL’s all-time leader in penalty minutes, Tiger Williams (above right) rides his stick as part of his trademark goal celebration while being congratulated by goaltender Mark Laforest Sunday afternoon. Meanwhile, one of the day’s biggest draws was the iconic Walter Gretzky who officiated the ceremonial face-off and signed countless autographs at Essroc Arena. (Adam Bramburger/Gazette staff)
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happy with the end result of the week-long budget deliberations. The operating budget was passed in a recorded vote of 8–6 with councillors Dianne O'Brien, Roy Pennell, Jim Dunlop, Jamie Forrester, David Harrison, Janice Maynard and Brad Nieman voting against the approval. Mayor Robert Quaiff said there's never a good story when the process ends with a tax increase, but said this budget is a step forward. “There are things that have to be done in a municipality and I think this council recognized that,” he said. “It's an adoption of our corporate strategic plan going forward that will produce financial sustainability for the residents in the long run.” Chief administrative officer James Hepburn Hepburn said councillors will see a substantial shift as the municipality looks toward long-term financial planning. He said staff expect to come back to council in February with a prioritized list for the implementation of strategic plan initiatives.
See BUDGET, page 27
LOOK INSIDE FOR COUNTY
Inside this week’s edition of the Gazette... OP/ED
REFLECTION
PECI senior drama students portray effects of violence
Canada’s longest publishing non-daily newspaper, proudly serving Prince Edward County since 1830
NHL alumni put on show for Special Olympics
Years after walking away from their professional hockey careers, Al Iafrate and Brent Gretzky still had their game faces on Sunday afternoon. As they sat in their stalls in the Wellington Dukes dressing room and waited for the clock to tick the final few seconds until they were due on the ice, they barked and bellowed instructions for their teammates with fervour. Their voices pierced the air with quick, staccato words designed to get them fired up and to show their guests they meant business. After expending encouraging words like “Hard on the puck!,” or “Give it our all tonight,” Gretzky let out one last shout “Just two minutes and we’re on!.” If the members of the competing Prince Edward OPP Law Enforcement All-Stars had heard that talk, surely they’d be quaking in their boots to play on the NHL Alumni Benefit Tour. It surely opened the eyes of a few visiting minor hockey players who popped into the inner sanctum for a few choice autographs. Unable to keep up the charade, however, Gretzky turned to Iafrate and they both burst out laughing.
RETAILING
Busy Hands offers artisans an enthusiastic audience
6 WEATHER 7 PUZZLES 16 SPORTS 22 CLASSIFIEDS 24
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