• Council passed the Budget for 2008, which contains a 2.5% tax increase on the Municipal portion of your tax bill. A 2.5 % increase represents ~ $75,000 tax revenue increase to the Municipality. This was achieved through use of ~ $400,000 of the surplus from 2006, to offset tax increases. District of Muskoka approved a 3.9% increase on their portion, and the Province had no increase in their portion for Education. The Township accounts for ~ 22% of your total tax bill; the District ~ 47% and the Province ~ 31%. These proportional increases add up to ~ 2.5% tax increase on your total tax bill.
• The Waste Cost Review Committee reported that they had met with 4 cottage associations, on May 1st, to discuss options for waste management. Those represented were; the Six Mile Lake Cottagers Association, The Gloucester Pool Cottagers Association, The Severn River Association of Property Owners, and the Gibson Lake Cottagers Association. The next Public Information Session on Waste Management will be held on July 12th at the Baxter Ward Community Centre.
• The Trent-Severn Panel on the Future of the Trent Severn Waterway has presented it’s final report to the Minister of the Environment. The Minister has recommended a $63 million infusion of capital to partially offset the $120 million shortfall in infrastructure funding for the TSW.

Jon Lett
705-756-2967 Home
705-733-6019 Cell
councilor.lett@sympatico.ca