CW council passes 1.9% operating budget increase (3.9% with capital levy )

On Feb. 21, Centre Wellington council passed its 2017 operating budget with a 1.89% local operating budget tax increase.

A press release issued by the township states that combined with the 2% dedicated capital levy approved by council in December 2015, the total township tax increase is 3.89% (or $37.09) on the township’s portion of an average tax bill.

For a home assessed at $339,545, taxes are allocated as follows:

- 56.8% ($2,183) supports the Wellington County services and operations

-  27.1% ($1,041) supports the Centre Wellington Township services and operations; and

- 16.1% ($620) goes to school boards.

Highlights of the operating budget include:

- a new source water risk management inspector, to be cost-shared between six lower tier municipalities in the county;

- an additional $55,000 toward gravel resurfacing and shoulder maintenance to remediate washouts and spring thaw impacts;

- an additional $15,000 to expand celebrations in recognition of Canada’s 150th anniversary;

- a new urban forest/landscape technician project manager within community services (three-year contract);

- a new asset management and capital project manager within environmental services (three-year contract);

- an integrity commissioner (contract to be possibly shared with the county and other municipalities);

- an additional $20,000 for economic development marketing; and

- developing a bylaw enforcement strategy for implementation in the 2018 operating budget.

A copy of the 2017 operating budget is available for public review on the township website at centrewellington.ca.