Crowds crash budget meeting

The Municipality of Shelburne’s budget meeting had to be relocated from the municipal offices to the larger Shelburne High School shortly after the masses showed up.

According to some of the attendees, leaflets about the meeting were being passed around at Tim Horton’s and delivered to mailboxes within the municipality outlining a proposed tax hike of 21 cents on every $100 of assessment for the development of a special purpose tax fund.

The suggested tax fund or capital budget of 21 cents would be allocated with one cent going towards acquiring the remaining lands and service of the Industrial Park, five cents to move their current location of municipal offices to lease at Shelburne Place, and the majority of the increase at 15 cents to be spent on acquiring Shelburne Park from the South West Shore Development Authority,

The budget documents lists the acquisition cost of Shelburne Park at $501,222 but does not mention the mortgage of $475,000 payable upon sale of the property.

The meeting started off with a slide presentation where the public was informed there would be no questions answered.

Questions could be written down on a piece of paper and deposited into the suggestion box at the back of the room.

Soon into the budget meeting it became clear questions would need to be answered as many members of the public stood up and spoke out.

“If there is to be a fund developed for special purposes,” said one member of the public, “it should be to sustain the businesses that are owned by locals.”

“Cut and run,” he said.

Another resident from the municipality spoke with emotion about the proposed hike.

“It’s a small county and there’s no money here to start with,” he said, “we’re striving to do all we can to get by.”

Many questions were asked about the municipality’s involvement in Shelburne Place and Shelburne Park.

Residents also discussed amalgamation between the Town of Shelburne, the Municipality of Shelburne and Lockeport.

Warden Paulette Scott of the Municipality stated that none of the other towns wanted amalgamation and it could not be forced.

“It is ridiculous to have five councils for less than 15,000 people in this county,” said an audience member.

Warden Scott’s response to the proposed tax increase was that you have to spend money to make money.

“Things are happening in Yarmouth because Yarmouth municipalities are putting money into it.”

“You can’t expect someone to do something for you if you have no money to do it with,” Warden Scott explained.

Additional meetings concerning the municipality’s budget will be held at the Shelburne Regional High School at 6:30 on Monday, May 7 and Tuesday, May 8.