Wellington North tax rate increasing 4.9% in 2024
KENILWORTH – Wellington North council approved the 2024 budget at a Dec. 11 meeting.
The budget process began with township department heads in September and council got its first look at a draft budget on Nov. 20, followed by a special budget meeting on Nov. 29.
The proposed increase to the township’s tax rate for next year began at close to 6%, but was revised to 5% at council’s request.
Township staff cut around $5.2 million in capital projects from the budget to accomplish the rate reduction, including several road reconstruction projects, two proposed pedestrian crossings, playground equipment, a watermain, parking lot repaving and Mount Forest dam maintenance.
Those projects have been deferred to future years, but will eventually have to be completed.
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Once new growth to the tax base is factored in, next year’s tax increase to residents comes in at 4.94%.
For a residential home valued at $271,636 (in 2016 dollars) the bill for the township’s portion is $1,468 – an increase of about $66 for 2024.
Overall, the operating budget is increasing to $9.64 million in 2024 from $9 million this year.
The capital portion of the budget is increasing to $9.77 million (not including a $13.5-million upgrade to the Arthur wastewater treatment plant) from $8.56 million this year.
Some of the notable expenses in the budget include:
- a generator and an upper-hall renovation for the Arthur and Area Community Centre;
- new gear for volunteer firefighters;
- replacement of the Arthur ice resurfacer;
- upgrades to the Arthur pool;
- demolition of the old Lion Roy Grant pool in Mount Forest; and
- a new plow, tractor and pickup trucks.
