Owen Sound City Hall. (photo by Matt Hermiz/Bayshore Broadcasting)
Owen Sound is extending the comment period for its 2021 proposed budget until Jan. 29.
City councillors reviewed the final 2021 draft budget at their meeting on Monday. The $64.8-million annual spending plan includes a total tax levy increase of $850,000.
Owen Sound’s Director of Corporate Services Kate Allan says the combined increase — including Grey County and education levies — to local residential taxpayers is an estimated 1.95 per cent.
That would result in an increase of just over $75 on annual residential tax bills for the average assessment of $220,000.
Grey County’s 2021 levy hike is expected to be higher than initially anticipated, as it looks poised to bring in an additional one per cent increase this year dedicated solely to affordable housing.
County councillors supported the idea in a recent meeting and will discuss it further in upcoming budget deliberations.
Owen Sound’s 2021 spending plan includes a $12.9-million capital program, nearly $39-million in operating expenses and an estimated $13-million for water and wastewater.
The biggest ticket project in Owen Sound’s capital plan for 2021 is the $5.3-million reconstruction of East Bayshore Road (Grey Road 15) from 3rd Avenue East north to the East Bayshore Road sewage pump station. That project is being funded in part by Grey County.
The 2021 Owen Sound budget bylaw will come forward at council’s Feb. 8 meeting for formal approval.
Public comments can be mailed or emailed to the city clerk until Jan. 29.