Huron County Council got a first look at the proposed 2024 County Budget.
Director of Corporate Services and County Treasurer Michael Blumhagen walked the council through the draft budget during Wednesday’s meeting.
Overall, the proposed levy increase is sitting at 9.65%, which works out to a property tax increase of 8.6% for this year. That works out to an average increase of $123 per household.
Blumhagen says that if the property taxes stayed at the same rate as 2024, revenue would only support a $486,256 of the projected cost increase of $4,830,845.
Non-union county staff will see a salary increase of 3%, and because 2024 is a Leap Year, the extra day on the calendar will cost the county $77,000 to compensate for staffing in positions that are scheduled 24/7.
Total labour costs for 2024 are going to be at $59,795,800 for staff salaries and benefits, with a total increase of $3,519,800.
Other staffing considerations for the county includes staff for the supported housing amenities for the Gibbons Street project which comes online this year in Goderich, as well as the supported housing in Exeter.
The capital costs for those projects are funded by the county’s reserves.
The projected capital budget is currently at $60.1 million for 2024, with $9 million coming from the levy, $17 million funded by provincial sources, an estimated $9.2 million from debentures, and around $7.5 in carryforwards from 2023.
The main budget pressures for the levy increase come from Public Works, Homes for the Aged, Emergency Services, and Housing and Homelessness.