West Grey has adopted its 2022 budget featuring a 6.6 per cent tax increase.
Mayor Christine Robinson says the budget was passed through by-law on March 15 and the tax increase will cost an additional $53 per $100,000 of resident assessment.
For the average residential home assessed at $258,000 in West Grey, property owners will pay an additional $138 on annual tax bills in 2022.
Some of the capital projects featured in the 2022 budget include:
-Replacing turnout gear for Ayton, Durham and Neustadt fire stations
-Purchasing two new police vehicles and in-car computers
-Purchasing a grader to replace the 2002 grader for Normanby
-Replacing an old plow with a used single axle plow
-Completing the Garafraxa Street bridge repairs, a 2021 Connecting Link partnership project
-Completing the Lantz Bridge replacement, a 2021 federal, provincial, and municipal funding project
-Replacing the sidewalk on Mary Street in Ayton
-The ongoing roads surface treatment program
-Launching an online portal for property tax and water payments
-Having the second annual summer camp partnership with Elephant Thoughts, at Riverstone Retreat
-Year two of the Community Improvement Plan grant matching program for property revitalization
Robinson says the total 2022 budget was approved at $32.7 million, with the operating budget at just over $16 million and the capital at over $16 million as well.
She says the budget continues to address infrastructure and capital projects, maintaining existing service levels, stimulating economic growth, and meeting legislative requirements.
“Budget deliberations are always a challenging but important task for council to work through,” says Robinson. “As a council, we must address immediate needs, plan for the future and provide programs and services that meet the needs of our community. This budget provides a stable funding base for mandatory services, while ensuring we continue investing in programs that build West Grey.”
Robinson says in 2021, West Grey council allocated funds to important infrastructure projects as well as developing significant partnerships to enhance community growth and vitality.
“This year’s budget will build on our successes while ensuring we continue making important investments in our future,” says Robinson.
