The Verdun borough won't be levying any special tax in 2007

That's what Verdun Borough Mayor Claude Trudel announced Tuesday, before the adoption of the 2007 budget by borough Council. "Despite Ville de Montréal's financial situation, it was of the utmost importance for us not to further tax Verdunites, while maintaining the quality of services," stated Mr. Trudel.

To make up for the $400-million shortfall, Ville de Montréal has decided, in particular, to freeze the boroughs' budget allowances. The Verdun Borough will therefore be receiving exactly the same allowance as in 2006-or nearly $32 million-whereas its spending will exceed this allowance by approximately $2.5 million.

The discrepancy between the budget allowance and the borough's needs may be explained, in particular, by the substantial increase in spending associated with garbage collections and transportation, by the rise in system costs and by a shortfall in receivables in the Development Fund. This discrepancy is also due to the increase in waste disposal charges, which should normally be paid by the Agglomeration.

The Verdun Administration has however announced the following measures to offset the freeze on Ville de Montréal's budget allowance: Starting in January 2007, municipal parking and parking meter rates will be increased, and the parking meter time ranges will be extended on certain streets, for example on Wellington Street; these measures will help the Borough earn additional revenues of $250,000; the En ballon nous event has been withdrawn from the 2007 summer program, to achieve savings of $357,000; however, the regular activities organized by the borough's Direction de la culture, des sports, des loisirs et du développement social will continue to be carried out normally during this same period of time. "Moreover, in order to use as little of the surplus as possible, we have reviewed our methods and procedures once again and we have carried out a rationalization exercise," explained Mr. Trudel.

Nonetheless, the borough is planning on pursuing the implementation of its strategic development plan adopted in 2005. At the same time, it will continue paying special attention to all projects that are near and dear to the elected officials' hearts, such as improving the waterfronts, developing the Pointe-Sud area of L'Île-des-Soeurs as well as social and community development.

Mr. Trudel pointed out that the 2007-2009 Capital Expenditure Program will be carried out. "We will continue to invest in order to make sure that our system of roads and sidewalks as well as our existing buildings are maintained in good condition. We will also allocate funds to the maintenance and redevelopment of our parks," he mentioned as examples.

For 2007, the borough's budget will total $34,406,000 for spending and $5,148,500 for revenues.<@S2>(Source : Verdun Borough)<$p>