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The Lucknow Sentinel, 2014-03-26, Page 1u Huron -Bruce Liberals tap Schenk New candidate ACW recognizes paramedics Awards presented 9Ime The L ck www.lucknowsentinel.com n $1.50 HST included PM40064683R07656 ow Sentinel Wednesday, March 26, 2014 Troy Patterson Kincardine News Lucknow's Barb Willits has a passion for teaching swimming year-round and has done so at her private pool for the past 20 years. Her Aquafit class on March 20, 2014 was all smiles while taking part in low -impact swimming exercises. L -R: Nancy Maclntyre, Ruth Buckmeier, Margaret Hamilton, Donna Sutton, Carol Cooper and Janet Wilkins. Front: Sepoy Swimmers owner Barb Willits. See story and photos inside. Huron -Kinloss Township ups taxes 3.2% for 2014 Steven Goetz QMI Agency The average property owner in Huron -Kinloss can expect to pay 3.2% more in property taxes this year. Huron -Kinloss council approved www.Iucknowsentinel.com the 2014 budget at its March 17 meeting. The document calls for $6.15 million in operating expendi- tures and $2.64 million in capital expenditures. Treasurer Jodi MacArthur explained in a report that the average residential single family home will pay $1,250.39 to the municipality this year, up $63.50 from 2013. When combined with Bruce County and education tax rates, that average household will pay $82.80 more this year. Council approved a hike in user fees for water and sewer services. The water service rate throughout Huron -Kinloss will rise to $350 from $325. The waterworks distribution rate in Ripley and Lucknow will rise to $175 from $125, while the sewer service rate will rise in Lucknow to $310 from $290, and in Ripley to $225 from $190. Taken together, all house- holds in Ripley and Lucknowwill pay at least $95 more in fees for water and sewer services. MacArthur said that after revenues and transfers from reserves were applied, the township had to levy $5,831,205, an increase of 6.63 per cent over the 2013 levy. In order to raise these funds, the residential tax rate was raised 1.5 -per -cent over the 2013 tax rate. The total residential tax rate, which includes municipal, Bruce County and education taxes, decreased 0.57 per cent from 2013. "Once again, the budget was developed with every attempt to meet the needs of the community while maintaining affordability," writes MacArthur. "Growth and reas- sessment helped off -set a loss in pro- vincial funding and rising operating costs:' According to the Municipal Prop- erty Assessment Corporation (MPAC), the average value of a resi- dential single family home in Huron - Kinloss is $242,762, an increase of 3.89 per cent. CONTINUED > PAGE 3