Wellington North council approves budget; average township tax increase is $4.84

Wellington North council has approved its 2018 budget, which includes a 1.8 per cent increase to the tax levy.

Council approved the budget bylaw on April 23 after holding a public meeting on April 16.

“Thanks to staff and [CAO Mike Givens]; the public open house went well,” said councillor Steve McCabe.

“Well done.”

Of the overall budget, $7.1 million is funded through taxes, including $2.2 million for capital projects and $4.4 million for operating costs.

The tax levy has increased by 1.8%, or $127,725, over 2017. Wages, salaries and benefits will increase by $189,735 to $4.4 million in 2018.

More than half of the total budget is allocated to the roads department, followed by 14% to recreation and 14% to administration.

The average residential assessment in 2018 is $246,996. The township portion of the tax rate has increased by 0.4%, or $4.85, bringing the average tax payment to $1,217.

For every tax dollar collected, 48.6% goes to Wellington County, 38.2% goes to the township and education portion makes up 13.2%.

Blended with the county and education portions of the tax rate, the average assessment tax payment will increase by $36.11 to $3,188.

While the single family dwelling tax rate is up slightly in 2018, the farm house tax rate has increased by 10%, the farmland rate is up by 5.6% and the commercial rate is up by 12.8%. The industrial rate is down by 1.4%.

The total capital budget is $10.3 million, paired down from the original $18.2-million capital ask when the budget was first presenting in March. Approved capital projects include:

- $840,000 for Durham Street East, Mount Forest, development-related construction;

- $166,000 for Wellington Street East, Mount Forest, development-related construction;

- $65,000 for updating the master wastewater servicing plan;

- $30,000 for a development charges study;

- $220,000 for renovation to the Arthur municipal office;

- $567,000 for a new pumper truck (this is a carry forward from the 2017 budget);

- $300,000 for an excavator;

- $450,000 for a road grader;

- $220,000 for an urban plow truck;

- $502,000 for bridge projects on Sideroad 3E, Concession 6S and 2nd Line;

- $1,645,112 for reconstruction of King Street West, Mount Forest ($677,752 for roads, $536,846 for sewers, $430,514 for water);

- $930,000 for reconstruction of Charles Street East, Arthur ($420,000 for roads, $330,000 for sewers, $180,000 for water); and

- $1,290,000 for reconstruction of Highway 89/Queen Street Connecting Link in Mount Forest.