About 30 people — a mix of representatives from lake associations, residents and newly settled-in cottagers — came to talk to the town’s councillors, a discussion occasionally interrupted by the boom of a steamship whistle tested out by the procession of tourists.

At the forefront of concerns was the recent seven per cent increase in municipal taxes.

“I don’t think anyone can leave here today,” said John Shaw of the Muskoka Lakes Association, “without the issue of taxation being addressed.”

Gravenhurst Mayor John Klinck responded with an explanation — the increase was necessary to boost town workers’ salaries to the average in the area — and empathy.

“Council fully understands taxation,” he said. “I have to get out my chequebook too when taxes are increased.”

He added that areas of the town’s budget remain tight, even with the tax hike.

“We need to say a collective prayer for no snow in November or December this year; we’ve blown our budget for snow removal for 2008.”

But there was good news, too. The province recently granted the area over $600,000, which Klinck said will to go fixing “additional roads we may be able to tackle.”

The first 90 minutes of the meeting saw the mayor take questions on a wide array of issues, ranging from receding water levels to the organic waste compost system and confusion over new crosswalk signals near Boston Pizza.

Councillor Mark Clairmont addressed residents’ concerns over forecasted water and sewage rate hikes, saying the increased cost should be spread across rural and urban areas.

“The bread and butter of Muskoka is its water,” he said. “If we don’t have good water, we don’t have much at all.”

Lola Bratty, who co-ordinates all 19 lake associations in the town, said there are a handful of issues that continually plague cottagers to the region.

“They carry 70 per cent of the taxes and make up for less than 50 per cent of the properties . . . and it’s only going to get worse this year.”

She said open discussions like Saturday’s are a step in the right direction, but council isn’t listening closely enough.

“I asked them not to pass their budget as it stood,” she said. “I asked them to take the time to look where you can save instead of always adding and adding. Did they do that? No.”

She said the “screaming will start again really soon,” with the property assessment freeze lifted this year.

Mayor Klinck told the Banner that the cottagers carry a disproportionate weight of the town’s property taxes and it’s understandable that the lake association representatives are concerned.

“They require less for a shorter duration, and they’re not typically receiving the breadth of services that full-time residents do.”

He added the municipal system prides itself on its efforts to openly converse with residents and cottagers alike.

“Frankly, I don’t think we get enough credit for these sorts of initiatives. . . . There were some great questions, and not easy ones to answer.”