Amherstburg's first day of budget deliberations is in the books, and Mayor Aldo DiCarlo says the proposed tax increase of 2% has dropped slightly to about 1.38%.
The decrease comes as a result council turning down a number of new positions recommended by administration like a full-time Communications Officer as well as a part-time Committee Coordinator.
DiCarlo says it's a matter of prioritizing.
"We're in a lot better shape than where we were no doubt, but we're still trying to find that balance of how do we catch up, deal with what needs to get done today and plan for the future?" he says. "I think that's a balance struggle that councils for at least a few more years to come are going to have to deal with."
DiCarlo says there's no question the extra staff is needed, it's just not the right time.
"As much as we're struggling with man power in the town, there's the reality that we're also still trying to rebuild financially. So some of those positions, we heard administration's request and we believe they were valid for sure. We just felt that, for now, I guess we've got to put them off for another year."
He says council is very conscious of the impact on the taxpayer.
"It almost comes down to what you're OK not getting done," explains DiCarlo. "There's things that we know have to get done without a doubt and then there's those things that have to get done, but we have to accept that the cost to get that done is not something that we believe the residents are going to be able to accept I guess."
Amherstburg's budget deliberations continue Wednesday at 2pm.
If needed, the third and final session is scheduled for Thursday at 9am.