Amherstburg residents will be happy to know the town's 2018 budget has come in with a lower tax increase than originally proposed.
Taxpayers will see a 1.69% rate hike rather than the 2% proposed by administration.
The decrease comes as a result of council turning down a number of new positions including a full-time Communications Officer and a part-time Committee Coordinator.
Mayor Aldo DiCarlo says he's pleased with the final number.
"As someone who takes the calls, takes the complaints, but still has to find that balance of what we need and what we can afford, it's in line with inflation. It's below the number that we started with. It'll get us through another year, I guess, is about the best way, I think, we should look at it."
He says he's hoping residents are happy with the number as well.
"I've spent that last couple weeks communicating, talking, explaining to the residents what we're doing, where the costs are, what we need, what we might not need. We can always say we don't want this and we do want that, but someone will always have a different opinion. So it's all about that balance."
DiCarlo says debt was $44-million in 2013, they've been able to bring that down to $38-million.
"I don't think these kinds of things turn out by accident. It was the work of administration that brings forward solid recommendations of what they believe we need to take care of our future, but you have to have that balance for what's affordable for the residents and I'm very proud with this number."
DiCarlo adds, the budget includes the town's biggest capital works plan to date with $5-million in projects scheduled for the coming year.
The increase amounts to $54 on a home assessed at $200,000.
Amherstburg Council will put its final stamp of approval on the 2018 budget at its December 11 meeting.
— with files from AM800's Rob Hindi