Waterloo Region tax hike, service cuts likely

Homeowners across the Region of Waterloo will likely have to shoulder a 2.8 per cent property tax increase as well as possible cuts to localpublic service, as the regional government grapples with a $7.5 million shortfall in the 2014budget.

Putting pressure on the public purse are bigticket local services, such as garbage pickup, public transit and staffing costs, all of which could could be on the chopping block when councillors lookto pare down the shortfall.

Tom Galloway, chair of the administration and finance committee, said what services could be reduced, and to what extent,will be outlined in a list regionalstaff are preparing for theNov.20regional council meeting.

"We'll get a look at that at the November meeting," he said. "Staff will come forward with a list of what they propose,but I'm sure not all of it will be accepted by council and council will have to substitute some other things to help bridge the gap."

Galloway said hecan't rule out public sector layoffs butcouncillors will try to avoid it, if possible.

"If you did reduce some service there's probably some staff that get reduced as wellbut we typically do that through attrition if at all possible," he said.