County residents will pay about $127 more in taxes next year now that council has approved an 8.55-per-cent tax increase – one meant to fix crumbling roads and flooded fields.
County council voted 6-1 in favour of its 2015 budget Tuesday. Coun. Patrick Tighe was opposed.
About 4.96 per cent of the tax hike is to cover county operations, with a further 2.59 dedicated to infrastructure maintenance. Another one per cent goes towards legacy drainage issues.
Council added roughly $4.1 million to the base budget presented by county administration last November during budget talks. Those dollars helped fund enhanced shoulder pulling for roads, more community grants, and a parks and open spaces master plan, amongst other projects.
The $73.8 million budget features some $31.1 million in capital spending – almost 40 per cent more than last year – due in most part to big projects such as the new Namao firehall.
Council made one minor tweak to the budget before passing it: instead of borrowing $487,632 to buy a new grader and spending that much in taxes to rebuild Twp. Road 562, council moved to borrow cash for the road and spend taxes for the grader. The change was made to fit council's aim to not borrow money when buying equipment.
Council considerations
Tighe said he could not support the budget based on comments from his constituents who felt county administration could be more cost-efficient.
But the rest of council defended the tax increase.
Mayor Tom Flynn said in an interview that it was tough to support an eight-per-cent tax increase, but the cash was needed to fix the drainage and road issues county residents said they wanted fixed. The budget also included cash for traffic calming measures and a new fund for bridge repairs.
Council could easily chop four per cent off this increase by not addressing issues like its three-year backlog in drainage problems, but that would mean not doing what residents want, said Coun. Susan Evans in council.
"If we as a council want to keep our head in the sand, that's easy."
The county has been sweeping these problems under the rug for far too long, said Coun. Wayne Bokenfohr.
"It's time for us to be accountable for these legacy issues."
Coun. Jerry Kaup said this was one of the toughest budgets he'd faced in his 20-some years in and out of office, and that past councils had lacked the fortitude to raise taxes when they should have.
"It's tough. I don't like to do that (raise taxes), but I think it's the right thing to do."
Council has to listen to voters and address their concerns, said Coun. Ferd Caron.
"It is going to be a very aggressive budget, but I think that's what our residents are expecting from us: improved service, and service comes at a cost."
Council later supported a motion from Caron to put any surpluses from the 2014 budget into reserves and the new Transportation Emergency Fund for bridge repairs.
The bottom line
An 8.55-per-cent increase works out to about $127 more per year or $10.58 a month for the typical $428,000 residential home, said Rick Wojtkiw, manager of corporate support for the county.
Add in a projected $45 and $1 hike for the education and seniors levies (respectively), and the average homeowner can expect to pay $2,756 in taxes next year.
Utility rates also went up from the first version of the budget. Homeowners can now expect to pay about 12 per cent more on their utility bill compared to last year instead of 10 per cent. Water rates are up 15 cents a cubic metre ($5.38 a month) on average, while wastewater is up $0.24 a cubic metre ($8.12 a month).
Tax notices will go out next spring once council sets its mill rate.
