BRIDGEWATER - Starting on next year's tax bills, businesses and residential ratepayers here will each shell out eight cents per $100 of assessment to pay for the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre.

 Town council passed a motion last week confirming the new tax rate. Civic politicians will determine the length of time the rate will be in place, but the mayor suggests the minimum will be 15 years.

 Council asked for public feedback during a two-week window before choosing one of three rate options up for consideration. The motion passed 4 to 2. Councillors David Mitchell and Bill McInnis wanted a rate that had commercial establishments paying less than residential ratepayers. Councillor McInnis suggested some businesses are "barely surviving" and felt a lesser rate to them would be "a reasonable trade-off."

 A group representing the Bridgewater business community suggested a zoning approach that would see properties closest to the lifestyle centre pay a higher rate and those furthest away taxed less.

 However, Mayor Carroll Publicover believed it was necessary to equally spread "the pain" to property owners.

 Councillors hope the community views the lifestyle centre as a regional asset and understands that the project of that magnitude comes at a cost.

 The 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 Municipality of Lunenburg is contributing $3.85 million to the project and intends to institute its own special-purpose tax rate.

 Ottawa and the province have committed $10.35 million and $10 million respectively.

 The centre, which will cost over $30 million, includes a library, pool and one ice surface with seating for 1,500 people.

 The centre is anticipated to be completed in 2012.

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 Before either council had made its decision on rates, two residents came to this newspaper's Bridgewater office to voice their displeasure.

 One man from Bridgewater said he wasn't happy with the degree of public consultation, nor the choices. "It looks like, like it or lump it," he said.

 Another gentleman from Italy Cross wants to start a petition or even a demonstration.

 "There's a bunch of us that are really getting ticked off about the whole thing," he said.

 When he receives his first tax bill showing the new rate, he said he'll pay his general taxes but not the special rate.

posted on 07/06/10