Budget raises $22 million from levy, local share of taxes up 6.3 per cent

Posted February 12, 2013

Councillors approved a 2013 budget last night that increases operating expenditures to approximately $30 million, and will require a levy of $22.24 million to finance, resulting in a tax increase for municipal purposes of $94.23, or 6.38 per cent more than last year on a home with an average assessed value of $305,891.

Simcoe County's projected average increase will add $9.31 to the 2013 tax bill, but a projected decrease in education taxes of $17.20 lowers the bottom line overall hit to $86.42, or 2.78 per cent over last year.

The capital budget is $18.3 million, most of which are carryover projects. DCs will cover $7.2 million of the costs, $3.6 million from "other" reserves, and about $6.4 million in new long term debt raising the total principal amount to approximately $70 million. The new debentures include:
- 2013 Road Upgrade program - $1.6 million;
- Fire Vehicles (Fire Tanker and Rescue Truck) - $.5 million;
- Alliston WWTP upgrades - $2.3 million (future DCs);
- Parsons Road Reservoir project - $2.0 million (future DCs).

The Water/Wastewater budget is $13 million. Water and Wastewater rates are increasing from $1.66 to $1.74 per cubic meter beginning April 1, 2013.

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