Here are your latest Brockville and area headlines:
- Brockville homeowners will be looking at a tax increase of nearly 8 per cent this year. City council is expected to finalize its budget tomorrow night with a 7.96 per cent increase. That will be an extra $102 on every $100,000 of assessed value on a residential home. A report from the city’s finance department says the budget has been “challenging due to factors beyond the city’ s control,” such as payroll benefits, fuel and the city’s garbage contract.
- A 45-year-old man has been arrested in Brockville near the Circle K on King Street West Friday after police say they found him with various items such as a collapsible baton, several knives and “dog spray.” They also found about $3,700 worth of drugs, including crystal meth and cocaine. The suspect has a criminal record.
- Persistent loud music has led to criminal charges in Brockville. City police say they’ve received repeated complaints for months about a home on Pearl Street West where neighbours were on the receiving end of the racket. On Thursday night, officers paid a visit and found the music “could be heard clearly from the street inside the police vehicle.” A 62-year-old man is charged with mischief for interfering with the lawful enjoyment of a property.
- A tourism services center for the Gananoque and surrounding area will continue for another two years. Leeds and Thousand Islands Township has agreed to an extension with the Town of Gananoque, for the existing one year contract that was about to expire. The agreement includes running the center at 10 King Street East, website and social media work and promotion of tourism in the region.
- Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles will be in Kingston today. She will meet with the Ontario Health Coalition to talk about the Kingston Health Sciences Corporation and the use of for-profit firm for laser eye surgery.