Guelph-Eramosa Township taxes up 1.7%

Guelph-Eramosa residents will be paying 1.7% more on the township portion of their tax bills this year.

On Monday night, council approved its 2009 budget, which totals just under $17-million, up over 50% from last year’s budget of $10.94-million.

Total revenue for 2009 is just over $13-million, leaving $3,958,934 to be raised through property taxes. That figure is up by 4.6% over last year, but increased assessment in the town­ship means residents will see only a 1.7% increase on their township tax bills.

For a home valued at $300,000 by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC), the township portion of taxes will be $777.

“Council and staff have worked together to continue to provide the services people expect and invest in our future, while keeping tax rates below inflation,” Mayor Chris White said.

The residential tax rate was actually lowered this year, but due to increases in property values, as applied by MPAC, the township’s portion of the overall tax bill will increase by about $14.93 for the average homeowner.

Township taxes make up about 20% of the overall tax bill, with the province’s portion for education at about 25%, and the county’s portion at 55%. County taxes are also up 2.4% this year.

The largest portion of the 2009 budget is recreation and culture services, at $7.06-million. About $6.2-million of that total is set aside for phase one of the Marden Park master plan, including a 50,000 square foot indoor facility that will house a Sports field with artificial turf and a track, as well as an outdoor football field.

Two thirds of the cost will be covered by a joint federal and provincial grant, while the township will use $350,000 in development charges and a $1.71-million debenture to cover its portion.

Also included in the parks section of the budget is:

– $49,065 for a new wide-area mower;

– $40,000 for washroom renovations and well decommissioning at Lloyd Dyer park;

– $29,260 for the enabling garden at the Marden park;

– $11,500 for improvements at James Lunch Park;

– $10,000 to expand the Rockwood cemetery; and

– $9,000 for improvements to the ball diamond at Lloyd Dyer and Rockmosa park.

Other major capital items included in the budget are:

– $990,000 for the 2nd Line East reconstruction;

– $500,000 for leasehold improvements at the new Rock­wood medical centre;

– $320,000 to pulverize and pave 3.5km of township roads;

– $80,750 for a new public works truck;

– $60,000 to meet PSAB requirements for reporting stan­dards for capital assets;

– $47,700 for a Station Street parking lot;

– $44,100 to complete work on two bridges;

– $34,000 to demolish the old fire hall in Rockwood;

– $32,000 for sidewalk improvements on Alma and Inkerman streets in Rockwood; and

– $25,000 for a site plan for the proposed expansion of the administration centre in Brucedale.

Council unanimously ap­proved the 2009 budget, which also includes a wage freeze for councillors and the mayor.  Complete copies of the budget can be picked up at the township office or downloaded from www.get.on.ca.

 

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