WELLINGTON COUNTY – Wellington County council has adopted a 2022 budget with a two per cent increase to the County portion of property taxes.
The budget was passed with little discussion during the Jan. 27 meeting, the culmination of a process that began in earnest last fall and provided councillors with numerous opportunities for input along the way.
“We don’t have to hash this out much longer,” said councillor George Bridge.
“I think the process was very well done this year and we’ve had lots of good opportunities to discuss it,” Bridge added.
At an October finance committee meeting, councillors directed county staffers to bring in a budget with an increase around the 2% mark.
Council also received budget updates in November and earlier in January and has been reviewing projections during committee meetings throughout that period.
The budget projects total spending of $240 million in 2022, with a total tax levy of about $113 million.
The increase will result in additional taxes of $12 per $100,000 in assessment for county taxpayers.
The increase, though higher than the 2021 increase of 1.2% is well below the 4.2% projected 2022 increase in the county’s previous 10-year plan.
“We’re running below inflation. But in these COVID times … as we’ve discussed many, many times here, these are very difficult budgets to put together, because we were in such a fog,” said councillor Chris White, who chaired the county’s administration, finance and human resources committee.
“It was so much that was unknown,” he added. “And I think that the council gave direction to staff, and they met that direction.”
Councillor Jeff Duncan pointed out the 2021 and 2022 budgets are “the lowest two years in succession … that county has passed a tax increase in the last two decades, for last 20 years.
“So the process worked well. And there may be some catch up that we’re going to have to do, but I think during these two years of COVID … we have stepped up to try to run an efficient operation, as well as expanding programs for our residents,” Duncan stated.
Councillor Dave Anderson noted, “our county and staff have been able to bring this budget forward without cutting services. So that just shows how efficient we are and how we work.”
In a press release issued after the meeting, Warden Kelly Linton said the budget was “responsible,” while allowing for “service enhancements and investment for 2022.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a series of challenging circumstances for all of the county’s communities, and has changed how we provide services to our residents,” the warden stated.
“This budget will continue to focus on enhancing core services across all of our communities, while also making important investments in infrastructure, health care, transportation, social services and climate change.”
The budget includes an “economic adjustment” of 1.9% for both union and non-union staff in 2022.
About $2.1 million of the $2.3 million increase in spending over 2021 is focussed on capital expenditures, notably roads.
Highlighted elements of the 2022 budget include:
- significant investment in roads capital infrastructure and public works facilities over the next 10 years, including a $41.2 million investment in facility upgrades that accounts for the replacement of the Arthur Public Works Facility in 2022, and updates to the Erin, Brucedale, Harriston and Aberfoyle public works facilities throughout the forecast;
- continuation of rural broadband investment to complete a gigabyte fibre optic buildout with municipal contribution of $4 million over five years ( 2021 to 2025);
- property acquisition and design for the construction of a new Erin Library Branch;
- implementation of the Climate Change Mitigation Plan for the County of Wellington;
- land ambulance service expansion including addition of a new 12-hour shift to improve response times across Wellington County;
- affordable housing property acquisition for future development to assist with meeting community needs;
- enhanced direct care hours at the Wellington Terrace Long-Term Care Home, as supported by a significant provincial funding contribution; and
- waste management enhancements including improvements to the Elora and Rothsay Transfer Station sites and two additional weeks of leaf and yard waste collection in the fall.
“Staff and council have taken great care to build a responsible and sustainable financial plan during these difficult times,” stated White.
“This budget will help serve our communities in the long-term, and help ensure that we maintain our services and infrastructure for our residents,” he added.
