ELORA – A Centre Wellington budget article in Feb. 14 Advertiser contained several errors.
The following summary includes corrected figures.
The proposed overall budget for Centre Wellington is $61,205,516.
That includes the tax-supported and user-based operating budget of $39,270,566 and the capital budget of $21,934,950.
The total tax levy (amount to be raised by taxes) is $14,666,055, up by 7.7% from the 2018 levy of $13,619,600.
The list of capital projects in 2019 includes:
– phase one (parking lot and landscaping) of the Sorbara Storybrook development ($150,000 from development charges and reserves);
– improvements to the Bissell Park multi-use pad ($475,000, including $350,000 from the MacDonald Trust and $125,000 from in-kind donations);
– various road, water, sanitary and storm requirements for Phase 3 of the Granwood Gate subdivision in southwest Elora ($3,635,000 total, including funds from OLG slots, water and sewer reserves, and the developer);
– installation of a servicing loop for the Strathlea subdivision in the north end of Fergus ($895,000 from reserves);
– Fergus well F7 (on Beatty Line North in Fergus) filtration installation ($1,090,000 from development charges and reserves); and
– new traffic signals and intersection improvements on St. David St. North in Fergus to accommodate the a new commercial development (relocation of FreshCo.), at a cost of $1 million, with $150,000 coming from reserves and $850,000 from the developer.
The Advertiser regrets the errors.
Revised budget
includes 4.05% increase
Council was expected to pass a revised budget at a meeting on Feb. 27 (results not known by press time).
Centre Wellington residents are now looking at a 4.05% increase in taxes this year.
Council decided to fund $20,000 for physician recruitment from reserves instead of taxes, resulting in the lower tax rate increase.
During draft budget discussions earlier this month, council was considering a 4.2% increase.
