The mayor of Windsor is flexing his fiscal muscles by saying he will continue to hold the line on taxes below the inflation rate and putting taxpayers first.
During his latest re-election promise, Drew Dilkens said the city has held the line on property taxes during his first term as mayor with a budget increase of only 2.4 per cent over the last four years, which he said is the lowest for any city in Ontario. He said that strategy has saved Windsor taxpayers $659 million over the last decade.
Dilkens boasts that Enwin Utilities has the lowest debt of the top 30 hydro distribution companies in Ontario, saying that ratepayers have saved $11 million since 2014 and takes exception to anyone who says it's mismanaged.
"It's hogwash and the numbers prove it. Enwin is the most audited company under the City of Windsor umbrella. Plus, they have provincial regulation and oversight," said Dilkens.
Dilkens also said city debt has gone from $104 million in 2014 to $78 million today, and he plans to cut it to $46 million over the next four years, if he's re-elected.
He also said that residents in Windsor are paying $837 less each year for their sewer surcharge than the provincial average.
Dilkens said he's running on his record of fiscal prudence and took a shot at his opponent Matt Marchand by saying his opponent has always stood for special interests instead of taxpayers.
"I'm very, very proud of my accomplishments, our accomplishments and I'm very, very proud of our record. In fact, I'm running on my record while my opponent is running away from his record," he said.
Dilkens doesn't regret holding the line on taxes because infrastructure was being well maintained and said it will continue to be under his watch.
"When we held the line on taxes, we had record investments in infrastructure in this city. So, no one was taking the eye off the ball," Dilkens said.