Arran-Elderslie held a public meeting on its draft budget Monday.
The 2024 spending plan incorporates 3.9 per cent inflation and staff have a goal of keeping the tax increase to six per cent or less.
Staff say there is an operating budget deficit of $654,653 which can be reduced by a 6 per cent property tax increase and would still leave them with a $210,940 deficit to address. To pay the whole thing off would result in a nine per cent tax increase.
Staff say the tax dollar is being allocated in roughly the same proportions as last year, with the top areas being policing, recreation and roads making up 75 cents of a dollar.
The biggest item in the capital budget is the new roughly $5 million Paisley fire hall and works building. Staff say it will require a loan, as well as possible borrowing from other reserves, proceeds from surplus land sales and an increase in property taxes in future years to pay for the project. Also included in the capital budget are a new pumper fire truck to be paid for in the 2024 and 2025 budgets as well as some road work in the municipality.
Of note, some economic development dollars and grant money (if awarded) would go to window wraps for under used spaces and vacancy signs in downtowns, local merch and a roadside signage project.