Demerged cities vow to fight Montreal's budget

The suburbs will pay the price for Montreal's decision not to raisetaxes in its 2007 municipal budget, warned mayors from several demerged cities as they vowed to contest it.

Montreal Mayor Gérald Tremblay managed to maintain his electoral promise of not raising taxes in the budget tabled Wednesday — even though property taxes will go up by varying degrees for three-quarters of residents on the island.

That sleight-of-hand was achieved partly by freezing spending in many areas, including money on the demerged cities and borough services.Although 15 municipalities on the island of Montreal voted to break off from the mega-city in a 2004 referendum, they still share many costs through a joint board, the agglomeration council.

Maria Tuttino, the mayor of Baie d'Urfé, a demerged city on the West Island, said the2007 budget is all too similar to that for 2006.

"I'm outraged, angry and disappointed."

In 2006, Montreal balanced its books by shifting some municipal costs to the suburbs.

Karin Marks, the mayor of Westmount, complained thatthe2007 budget does the exact same thing.

"They have gone, and taken the extra money they need from the 15 cities."

In 2005,demerged city leaders successfully contested the Montreal budget at the provincial level, and Quebec ordered Montreal to divest $40 million dollars to the suburbs.

The mayors said theyplan on fighting the 2007 budget the same way.