{"id":8343,"date":"2015-12-13T08:19:13","date_gmt":"2015-12-13T13:19:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/huntsville.dopperonline.ca\/?p=8343"},"modified":"2015-12-13T13:05:17","modified_gmt":"2015-12-13T18:05:17","slug":"survey-says-that-people-in-huntsville-are-willing-to-accept-a-municipal-tax-increase","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/doppleronline.ca\/huntsville\/survey-says-that-people-in-huntsville-are-willing-to-accept-a-municipal-tax-increase\/","title":{"rendered":"Survey says \u2026 that people in Huntsville are willing to accept a municipal tax increase"},"content":{"rendered":"

The results of a recent survey about property taxes in the Town of Huntsville have been made public.<\/p>\n

According to a staff report, 258 people took the time to respond to the 14-question survey launched this past fall and, remarkably, those 258 people provided more than 500 comments and suggestions about which Town programs and services provide the most value and why, what services should be enhanced or reduced, and which Town assets they would dispose of to reduce maintenance cost.<\/p>\n

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Not surprisingly, road maintenance topped the list of concerns with 66 per cent of the respondents wanting that service enhanced. Roads are followed by road network at 64 per cent, winter control at 47 per cent, community development at 31 per cent, and transit at 28 per cent.<\/p>\n

One respondent conveyed the sentiment of many with this statement: \u201cI think road maintenance speaks pretty clearly for itself. People are fed up with potholes and bumps and the mediocre work being put into repairs. I for one am tired of the extra costs of maintaining my car from damages caused by the roads.\u201d<\/p>\n

In contrast, the top five services respondents felt should be reduced are administration at 23 per cent, Muskoka Heritage Place at 20 per cent, protective services at 18 per cent, arts and cultural programs at 17 per cent, and sustainability at 14 per cent.<\/p>\n

One respondent didn\u2019t mince words in suggesting no further increase should go to administration. \u201cHiring and salary freeze now! We are the country club of Muskoka. Sunshine list is way too big and there are too many people in town hall.”<\/p>\n

Protective services also took a hit. \u201cBy\u2010Law no longer works weekends or evenings and doesn’t enforce anything so get rid of them or start to enforce by\u2010laws including parking.”<\/p>\n

Perhaps most surprising is that 60 per cent of respondents are in favour of a tax increase if it enhances (chosen by 33 per cent) or maintains (chosen by 27 per cent) services. However some people did balk at the wording of the question, which gave these three options for an answer:<\/p>\n