Wellington North council is contemplating an $8.6-million capital budget for 2017.
At a special meeting on Nov. 28, council had its first look at the 2017 budget, which includes $4.7 million for operating expenses and $8.6 million for capital.
Of the total budget, about $7 million is proposed to be raised through tax dollars, an increase of about four per cent over 2016.
“When you pull in our (assessment) growth … which was about 1.1%, it works out to a 2.9% increase in the levy,” CAO Mike Givens said following the meeting.
Mayor Andy Lennox explained in an interview the township was increasing the capital budget year over year.
“We’ve been ramping it up in the last few years, trying to replace some of our aging infrastructure and this is kind of continuing the same trend,” Lennox said.
The budget still needs more work, he added, saying $740,000 is proposed but unfunded.
“Council – and staff – are going to need to prioritize some of the projects that have been identified … (to) fully fund them,” said Givens.
He said council has four options for the unfunded projects: increase the levy amount, borrow funds, use reserves or cut the projects from the budget.
He added, “we’re trying to avoid issuing more debt until we look at the Arthur Wastewater Treatment Plant, the full construction of that.”
The township has $17 million in reserves, much of which is held for the future treatment plant.
Three major road reconstruction projects are on the books for 2017.
