Grey County is looking at a tax rate increase of 2.11 per cent.
On Friday, County Committee of the Whole supported the draft 2021 budget. It comes back to Council for official approval February 11th.
The County says in a release, the total operating and capital budget works out to $171.2 million.
The 2.11 per cent tax rate increase would work out to an average increase per single-detached household of $24.93.
Of note, in the budget is a $1.11 million investment to create an affordable housing fund on the recommendation of the Affordable Housing Task Force. The amount is equal to $500,000, plus the equivalent of 1 per cent levy. The task force recommended including 1 per cent in the budget each year to continue growing the fund which will support land purchases and affordable housing builds. Council chose to pay the 1per cent in 2021 from one-time reserves.
County Warden Selwyn ‘Buck’ Hicks says in a statement, “Affordable housing continues to be a real challenge. County Council is taking action to ensure individuals and families in Grey will have more access to safe and affordable homes,” adding, “We still have a lot of work ahead, but this is a massive step forward.”
Hicks says, “The 2021 budget is responsive to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the needs of the community. Service levels are being maintained in most departments with additional resources supporting important priorities, such as affordable housing, transportation infrastructure, rural transportation and other areas.”
The budget also includes $3.7 million towards 49 housing capital projects throughout the County and administering $3.8 million from the Canada Ontario Community Housing Initiative and Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative to support an affordable housing build by the Owen Sound Housing Company.
Estimated new assessment revenue of $1.24 million is included in the budget. The County says this growth helps meet levy requirements but also puts more demand on services.
Council supported continuing the annual 1 per cent increase to the transportation budget as recommended in the asset management plan in order to continue maintaining road infrastructure.
The budget also contains municipal tax support for the operation of the Grey Road 4 route of the Grey Transit Route between Flesherton and Walkerton. This busy corridor is not included in the Provincial funding for the Community Transportation project.
Nearly $2 million is budgeted to support increased spending for staffing and equipment (including PPE) to support COVID-19 infection control, screening and testing. The County says the bulk of that will go to long-term care, with the rest going to paramedics, maintenance and cleaning across all services, especially in affordable housing.
Hicks says, “While additional funding from upper levels of government is likely, we need to be vigilant in our planning to ensure we have the resources ready to go if and when they are needed.”
Meanwhile, Grey County has some plans and studies set to be conducted in 2021, they include an Age-Friendly Community Strategic Plan, a review of development charges, building and facility condition assessments and updating the Corporate Communications Strategy.