The president of the Windsor Parade Corporation feels Amherstburg's Santa Claus Parade is being singled out, as the town looks to reduce a proposed 9.2% tax increase.
The town is considering a 20% cut to its $53,000 community events fund. Instead of spreading the cut across the board, Maggie Durocher says the budget would simply eliminate $10,000 in funding for one event: the Amherstburg Santa Claus Parade.
"For the Santa Claus Parade to bear the full brunt of the budget cut from the tourism department is just not acceptable."
Durocher plans to speak her mind during a budget meeting Thursday night and hopes residents voice their support for the event too.
"You've got about 10,000 people on the street, 2,000 participants; the economic spinoff is almost not measurable," says Durocher. "It's huge."
She says the funding from the town accounts for 60% of the event's overall budget and without it, the Windsor Parade Corporation will have to ask for more from its sponsors or find new ones.