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Warden: County Budget Could Rise

Oxford County Councillors are getting their first crack at the 2013 budget. It was tabled by new CAO Peter Crockett this afternoon at a lean 1.2% increase. Warden Don McKay says it is a relatively quiet year on budget demands. "There's no critical gaps that we have to play catch-up on. So now while we're in a transition to a new CAO, while we're still waiting to pull a strategic plan together, this is a year where we can go low key." However, McKay says council may look at adding to the budget, especially in the area of reserve funds for future road projects. "The province downloaded some major roads to us, Highway 2, Highway 59, and when they come for major maintenance, it's going to take a significant reserve. So perhaps in these quieter times, that's an area where we could be looking." Already, an extra $500,000 is being proposed to the roads budget this year. Another winner in the preliminary budget is Oxford County Tourism. They're budgeted for a $100,000 increase next year for enhanced marketing. Offsetting those costs is a big number coming off the County's books, the 10-year $700,000 grant to the Woodstock Hospital is ending.

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