Owen Sound’s 2010 budget has passed, and it carries with it a 3.32-per cent tax increase.
That figure will be a bit higher on residential tax bills and lower on others, like large industrial.
It represents a 5.81-per cent hike in the municipal portion of the bill and slight decreases for the county and education portions.
Mayor Ruth Lovell Stanners says it’s the most involved budget she’s ever been part of during her time on city council.
There were already plenty of scheduled meetings between councillors and staff, but more work was necessitated after the administration learned in December that the city would lose 400 thousand dollars in provincial grants.
It made for a real challenge, the mayor says, and the hurdles will only become greater as the city faces further cuts down the road.
But the city has already begun preparations for the 2011 budget, a move toward year-round financial planning as advocated by city manager Jim Harrold and supported by council.
Some creative financing will ensure that more than 13 million dollars worth of capital works will go ahead in 2010.
The biggest of the big-ticket items are waste water system upgrades, which will cost almost 5.5 million, funded from utility revenues.
The replacement of the 9th Street bridge will cost 3 million dollars, half of which will be paid by grants, utility revenues and development charges.
The completion of the 10th Street East link at a cost of 600 thousand dollars will be funded by gas tax revenues, development charges and a payment from the Bluewater District School Board.
And of course the 38-million dollars regional recreation centre will move forward, although that won’t impact the tax bill in 2010.