Kincardine Council has arrived at a budget increase of just over six percent, and it looks like council will soon be giving it final approval.
Mayor Larry Kraemer says the they have been keeping taxes low for a long time and relying heavily on reserves.
He says this year’s budget still takes 5.4 million dollars from reserves and that approach is not sustainable.
As for the tax increase — it works out to about a 40 dollar increase on the tax bill this year for a property assessed at 169 thousand dollars.
Kraemer says despite the dollar increase some ratepayers will face, the decimal tax rate in Kincardine is going down.
Projects for the year ahead include new washrooms at the Whitney Crawford Community Centre in Tiverton, and a new heating system for the fire hall in that community.
Funds are also being set aside for road upgrades near the Women’s House site in Kincardine.
10 thousand dollars is being budgeted for a national event taking place in December. The Olympic Torch Relay will pass through town on the 28th on it’s way to the Vancouver games.
Kraemer is pleased the municipality is receiving 179 thousand dollars more in federal gas tax dollars. That money will be used on road projects.
Seven thousand dollars will be used to convert the horticulturalist’s position from part-time to full-time.
Kraemer says now that council is decided on the budget, they can go ahead and begin authorizing spending and seeking tenders for this year’s projects.
He says the final budget by-law cannot be approved until they find out what the Bruce County tax rate will be near the end of the month.