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​Kincardine sitting at 6.83% tax-rate hike in draft 2025 operating budget

Liz DadsonBy: Liz Dadson  January 8, 2025
​Kincardine sitting at 6.83% tax-rate hike in draft 2025 operating budget
Kincardine council had its first discussion about the 2025 operating budget at the meeting, Dec. 10, and after six hours of presentations and debate, the municipal tax-rate increase is sitting at 6.83 per cent. This would equate to a hike of $164.74 for the average residential tax assessment of $275,000.

Initially, treasurer Roxana Baumann had included a 7.99-per-cent tax-rate increase but with various changes, including the OPP billing adjustment, it was reduced to 6.83 per cent.

She noted that the municipal tax bill is split in three separate portions:
 
  • 57 per cent to pay for services provided by the Municipality of Kincardine
  • 33 per cent to pay for Bruce County services
  • 10 per cent to school boards for education

Baumann said there have been a number of significant changes from last year’s levy to this year’s budget, for a total of $1.267-million. There were also new revenue and budgetary reductions, for a decrease of $558,300; and one-time tax-mitigation measures for a total of $539,200, including the Bruce Telecom dividend ($250,000), nurse practitioner/physician incentives ($235,200) and Westario Power dividend ($54,000).

She added that there was an increase of $268,000 (11.1 per cent) in the OPP contract; however, that has been off-set by provincial relief in the amount of $396,870. The province has also increased the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund amount by $159,100.

Meanwhile, the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority levy has increased by $76,554; and the Saugeen Mobility and Regional Transit (SMART) levy has increased by $5,165.

Baumann said the following new staff positions are requested, but not included in the draft budget:
 
  • Manager of planning services
  • Environmental services maintenance co-ordinator
  • Executive administrative assistant, community services
  • Lead hand, parks and facilities
  • Parks and facilities maintainer
  • Two parks students (18-week contract)
  • Special events co-ordinator
  • Accessibility co-ordinator
  • Purchasing and procurement co-ordinator
  • Voters’ list assistant (summer student) – election reserve

The 2025 capital budget currently sits at $27.242-million, including the following major projects:
 
  • $750,000, Station Beach boardwalk reconstruction
  • $600,000 Davidson Centre generator replacement
  • $365,000 various playground and parks improvements
  • $325,000 Tiverton Sports Centre compressors and chiller
  • $320,000 Tiverton Sports Centre board replacement
  • $275,000 Davidson Centre wall repairs and sealing
  • $110,000 Seashore playground construction
  • $2.4-million replacement of 1999 aerial truck
  • $550,000 Tiverton mini-pumper truck
  • $325,000 compressor replacement
  • $150,000 women’s washroom facility upgrades
  • $6.568-million Kincardine Water Treatment Plant upgrades
  • $4.2-million Brown’s Hill Bridge reconstruction
  • $1.5-million rural paving Concession 9 (SDR 15 to Bruce County Road 1)
  • $800,000 Sterling vactor truck
  • $948,000 Andrew Malcolm watermain replacement
  • $325,000 Bruce Energy Centre repairs
  • $275,000 replacement trackless sidewalk plow
  • $275,000 various culvert repairs
  • $265,000 Broadway multi-use path
  • $150,000 columbarium expansion

Baumann said that because none of the capital projects is directly funded by the general tax levy, removing or deferring a capital project will not increase or decrease the proposed tax rate. It will impact only the balance of the related reserve fund.

Department budgets were also presented for council, chief administrative officer, corporate services, community services, fire and emergency services, infrastructure and development, and strategic initiatives.

Baumann said the next steps include discussion of the 2025 operating budget, capital projects, new position requests, and community requests for funding.

The next budget meeting is Monday, Jan. 13, at 9 a.m.

Also at the Dec. 10 meeting, council gave pre-budget approval to the purchase of the vactor truck at a cost of $800,000, funded by the sewer reserve fund ($200,000), water reserve fund ($200,000) and the lifecycle reserve fund ($400,000).

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