WELLINGTON COUNTY – County council has approved a 2020 budget with a 3.3% increase to the county portion of property taxes.
The increase, approved at council’s Jan. 30 meeting, takes the county’s total levy for the coming year over the $100 million mark, to $105,642,800, an increase of $5,901,000 over the budgeted 2019 levy of $99,741,800.
For residential ratepayers, the tax impact of the levy hike is an additional $20 per $100,000 of assessment.
The budget calls for total 2020 spending of $229,815,000 against revenues of $124,172,200.
The budget includes capital spending of $38,811,200 in 2020.
Slow start for Ride Well
Wellington County has temporarily some reduced some vehicle availability in its new Ride Well program in response to lower-than-anticipated ridership in the first three months of operation.
“Ridership continues to grow as the program establishes itself,” stated economic development director Crystal Ellis in a staff report.
The app-based ride sharing service, launched Oct. 1, provided 75 rides in the first month, 146 in November and 173 in December for a three-month total of 394.
Staff recommend that the annual budget be reduced by $30,000 to account for the reduced hours, leaving room to increase the vehicle hours as ridership increases, the report states.
Councillor George Bridge, who chairs the economic development committee, told county council ridership in January rose to 226.
“So we’re seeing that trend … I think we’re seeing the turn and its just a matter of getting it out there,” said Bridge.
Sound move
Wellington County council is considering the installation of a sound system in its council chamber.
At the Jan. 30 meeting councillor Allan Alls introduced a motion requesting “staff be asked to investigate the cost and practicality of a sound system in the county chambers.”
The resolution to investigate a sound system was approved.
Acknowledgement
Also at the Jan. 30 meeting, councillor Don McKay introduced a notice of motion calling for the addition of an acknowledgement of Indigenous territories at county meetings and events functions, “where it’s appropriate.”
The motion will be introduced at the Feb. 27 meeting.
