Tax reduction -- Hallelujah.

The Coldstreamer March 31

They have done it!!! Following a debate that lasted an hour and a half Council agreed to a tax increase of 6.95%. That is reduced from the initial proposed increase of 9.17%.

There was much debate on what to do with the sizable surplus Coldstream amassed during 2007. Some Councillors actually proposed an increase of only 5.95% but they were in the minority.

It was interesting to listen to Councillor Malerby passionately embracing the lower tax rate of 5.95%. It was in sharp contrast with her earlier but equally passionate defense of the 9.17% increase.

Perhaps the most interesting comments came from Councillor Williams who maintained that she could not accept a reduction of services in "her community". She seems to forget that she no longer is a member of this community since she moved out of Coldstream nearly a year ago.

Anyway, I think Council deserves credit for revisiting the issue and reducing the tax increase to a level more in line with other communities.