MINTO – Council here has approved a 2022 budget with a local tax rate increase of 0.85%.
The increase means a tax hike of just over $11 for local municipal purposes, based on the average residential home assessment of $242,000.
The tax levy (portion of budget supported by taxation) will rise by 2.2 per cent, an increase of $123,712 over the 2021 levy of 5,634,888.
At the Dec. 21 meeting, treasurer Gordon Duff noted the final budget figures are unchanged from those presented to council at operating and capital budget meetings on Nov. 23 and 30 and at an online budget open house on Dec. 14.
The operating budget contains total spending of $10,223,200, of which $5,758,600 is tax supported.
The non-tax supported operating budget, which includes water and wastewater spending, is $4,464,600.
“There are no huge changes here. It’s going forward as was discussed,” said Duff.
The budget contains about $4.4 million in capital spending, including:
- computer hardware replacement, $60,000;
- administration building equipment and upgrades, $20,000;
- $105,000 for industrial development projects in Harriston;
- $110,000 for improvements to Clifford Celebration Square;
- $100,000 for fire hall renovations; and
- $100,000 for pedestrian crossovers.
In addition, in October council approved an amendment to the 2021 capital budget to facilitate borrowing for the town’s share of a planned $2.4-million renovation and expansion of the Palmerston arena, community centre and sports fields.
The town approved borrowing to cover the town’s $650,000 share of the project, which is being funded through a $1.7-million grant from the federal/provincial Investing In Canada Infrastructure Program.
The amendment also cleared the way for borrowing to facilitate a $2.9-million replacement of the clarifier at the Palmerston wastewater treatment facility, $500,000 for roadwork on the 12th Line and additional borrowing for a major construction project on White’s Road that has been moved forward by several years to facilitate an expansion of the Royal Terrace Long-Term Care facility in Palmerston.
The total estimated cost of the White’s Road project is $3.7 million, with the County of Wellington’s share estimated at $1,745,000 and the Town of Minto’s share at $1,955,000.
Deputy mayor Dave Turton commended staff for their work on the budget.
“We had three great meetings,” said Turton.
“The last one there was not a lot of participation from our ratepayers (no members of the public signed on for the Dec. 14 session) but I’m hoping that us tells us something …
“It was on our website and we certainly are transparent in reference to our budget.”
A motion to accept the budget report was approved unopposed.
Later in the meeting council passed a bylaw putting the budget in place.
