The City of Chateauguay has temporarily laid off 106 employees because of the COVID-19 crisis. That represents nearly a quarter of its manpower of 420 people.
Translation Dan Rosenburg
Mayor Pierre-Paul Routhier indicated this at the City Council meeting of April 20.
The elected officials accepted to put in place a supplementary system of unenmployment payments for the employees who find themselves on an enforced holiday. The program will assure them of receiving 85% of their gross weekly salary.
Taxes
Considering that the salaries represent a large part of the City”s expenses, can the citizens count on tax credits? The Mayor responded to this question in the negative. “It is very possible that we will not have a reduction of taxes because there are enormous costs connected to this,” he explained. “Let us forget the costs of the computer problem, which have already reached $500,000; there is an enormous amount of overtime being made by certain departments. If there could be an equilibrium of costs, I can’t tell you there would be a tax decrease, but, at least, I want to assure myself that there is no tax increase. And that is why we are doing this. It’s out of respect for the taxpayers “
