Meaford council is adopting its 2023 budget, which includes a blended tax rate increase of 3.16 per cent.
During a meeting on March 27, council received a report from CAO Rob Armstrong to adopt the budget.
Armstrong says the while the overall tax rate increase is 4.46 per cent, residents who’s homes are assessed at $276,000 can expect an annual increase of $105 on their bill.
Meaford’s initial draft budget included a proposed seven per cent tax rate increase, but Meaford Mayor Ross Kentner says he is happy they were able to get it down.
“We were looking at, when we started off, something at the rate of inflation maybe eight per cent. We got that down to just a hairs breath over three per cent which I think is really good,” says Kentner.
Some of the capital projects featured in the budget include rehabilitation of the Bayfield Street shoreline, replacing Gillies Bridge, and replacing the harbour D dock.
The approval of the budget comes following drafts tabled at council meetings in January, a public engagement session in February, and council deliberations.
Kentner says he is pleasantly surprised with how quickly they were able to get the budget done.
“These really are challenging times for anybody trying to put together a budget, whether it’s the family budget or its for a municipality. I know a lot of our near neighbours had a lot of difficultly tying to do their budget,” says Kentner.