City councillors hit up strippers to keep your taxes down

Sault Ste. Marie City Council smacked local strippers tonight with a 17 per cent licence-fee hike.

The annual cost of a burlesque attendant licence will rise $15 to $105 this year as part of user fee increases intended to keep municipal property taxes down.

Under the Sault's adult entertainment parlour bylaw, a burlesque attendant is defined as someone providing "services appealing to or designed to appeal to erotic or sexual appetites or inclinations."

Annual licences for owners or operators of adult entertainment establishments will remain at $2,000.

Some other user-fee increases that will come into effect next Monday, Jan. 21:

• Sault Transit cash fares will rise a nickel to $2.90
• downtown and Civic Centre parking meters will also charge a nickel more at $1.35 an hour
• raffle and bingo licences will now cost at least three per cent of prize value, compared to two per cent previously
• pawnbroker licences will rise $15 to $275
• a master plumber licence will gurgle up $5 to $30
• peddler's licences increase $10 to $265
• an annual amusement arcade licence will now cost $280 a year, compared to $265 currently
• food vending licences are hiked $25 to $270
• renting the Bondar Tent Pavilion for your wedding ceremony and reception will cost $1,326 in 2019, up $29 from this year
• cruise ship dockage fees will rise 35 cents a metre to $6.10
• a new, $40 fee will be slapped on Brownie and Girl Guide sleepovers at the Ermatinger Clergue National Historic Site
• cemetery lots will cost $95 more at $950 for a single grave, and $190 more for a $1,900 double
• comparable hikes will apply to sewer connections, culverts and rezoning fees
• arena, pool fees and both indoor and outdoor turf rentals at city facilities will all rise