(BlackburnNews.com file photo)(BlackburnNews.com file photo)
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Property Tax Hikes Possible To Pay For Infrastructure Improvements

Lambton County's warden is warning that property taxes may have to increase to help pay for repairing crumbling infrastructure locally.

Bill Weber attended last weeks Association of Municipalities of Ontario Conference in Ottawa.

The AMO's resolution, calling for a 1% hike in the HST to help repair roads, bridges and sewers, was met with a flat "no" from all three major political parties in Ontario.

Weber says he's undecided on how to raise badly needed money.

"They're going to try to find a different way," says Weber. "We have infrastructure that needs replacing throughout the province and we have to find the funding somewhere. It may end up in property taxes but I feel raising property taxes isn't the right way to pay for infrastructure repairs and improvements."

The association says existing federal and provincial infrastructure programs don't come remotely close to meeting the need.

President Lynn Dollin says the funding gap will be $4.9-billion annually for the next ten years.

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