BRIDGEWATER - Residents and businesspeople are being asked which one of three tax scenarios designed to pay for the town's share of the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre they want to see on next year's bill.

 Town council wants phone calls, e-mails and any feedback from the public as to which one suits best because, like it or not, a new rate expected to last 20 years is coming in 2011-12.

 Based on the figures, residential taxpayers with a property assessed at $150,000 can expect to pay at least another $120 per year on top of what they're already shelling out via the standard regular residential rate of $1.669 per $100 of assessment.

 "Rink rate" options include a commercial and residential rate of .08 cents per $100 of assessment or a commercial rate of .0468 cents and residential rate of .0935 cents per $100 of assessment, or a commercial rate of .0935 cents and residential rate of .0647 cents per $100 of assessment.

 Public input is welcome up to and including the June 28 regular town council meeting when civic politicians will make the final determination.

 Mayor Carroll Publicover said he doesn't think council is rushing people to make a choice.

 "I think the options are clear and simple and I think if people are inclined to give a response and to have an opinion they'll have one within two weeks and we'll hear from them," he said after council discussed the matter June 14.

 The Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre, when built, will replace the King Street library, the outdoor swimming pool off Jubilee Road and the Bridgewater Memorial Arena off Empire Street.

 Bridgewater's contribution to the capital cost is $5 million. The centre, which will cost over $30 million, includes a library, pool and one ice surface with seating for 1,500 people.

 Bridgewater's finance director Dawn Keizer said the $5 million will be borrowed with the special-purpose tax being collected for the 20 years. It will be placed in a reserve fund and used to make the debt payments.

 Councillors made it clear they want to hear what taxpayers think.

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 "It's not a plebiscite. It's not a referendum but we are interested in how people are going to view this proposal," said the mayor, who wouldn't reveal his preference until June 28.

 During its annual general meeting late last week the Bridgewater and Area Chamber of Commerce expected to form a committee to come up with a position on the issue.

 The Municipality of Lunenburg, which is contributing $3.85 million to the project, also intends to institute their own tax rate.

 Ottawa and the province have committed $10.35 million and $10 million respectively to the lifestyle centre project, which is expected to be completed in 2012.

posted on 06/22/10