DISTRICT DEFIES TIMES BY INCREASING ITS THIRD OF BUDGETS BY 2%
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
MUSKOKA — As lower tier governments like Bracebridge toe the line on budgets in these tough times, the District of Muskoka is increasing yours.
Two weeks ago Bracebridge councillors passed their “municipal budget and business plan” with “zero increase” while touting an “ambitious capital program.”
Gravenhurst approved a 1.5 per cent increase this year back in December — almost $7 per 100,000 assessment. It includes a $1.8 million aerial ladder truck to battle “horizontal” fires.
Huntsville’s hike — if any — was last predicted at less than a per cent.
Your tax bill is made up of town, district and education taxes, about equally.
This week district councillors opted instead by saying an “average resident” will see an overall 2.05% tax increase in its one-third portion of your property taxes this year.
They say that amounts to $17.57 for a property valued at $300,000.
Council approved a $131,668,252 tax-supported operating budget they say in a release Thursday meant to keep existing services and service levels.
And one that will invest in transportation infrastructure, housing, long-term care “and other council priorities.”
See more at: www.muskoka.on.ca/budgets or view the graphic below.
Council also approved the 2021 rate-supported operating budget and capital budget and forecast for Solid Waste Management and Water and Wastewater services in December 2020. For updated user rates and service fees, visit: https://www.muskoka.on.ca/en/finance-and-administration/user-fees-rates-and-charges.aspx
NO BRACEBRIDGE TAX HIKE
Middle Muskoka approved its 2021 budget and business plan at the first of the month citing a 0% increase to the tax rate.
They say it ensures service levels are maintained.
“Council wants to support people and businesses during these extraordinary times,” said Mayor Graydon Smith in a release March 3.
He said the town’s plan freezes the tax rate, “while maintaining an ambitious capital program, including initiating construction of a new Multi-Use Community Centre, to support high quality services and economic prosperity into the future.”
The release highlighted:
- $8.75 million to begin construction of a new Multi-Use Community Centre, funded largely by redeploying the town’s annual allocation to the major maintenance reserve to support new debt that will be issued at historically low rates;
- $750,000 to complete the final stage of the $2.8 million Black Bridge project, of which $2.1 million will be supported by federal and provincial grants;
- Additional capital spending to undertake a variety of Public Works projects that were delayed last year due to COVID-19, including $370,000 to complete the extension and widening of Salmon Avenue;
- Full use of the town’s Safe Restart Agreement funding received from the federal and provincial governments to address pandemic-related operating budget pressures;
- $307,000 drawn from the town’s tax stabilization reserve to hold the line on 2021 taxes. The approved budget and business plan can be found in the budgets and financial reports” section of the town’s website at www.bracebridge.ca.
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