Wasaga councillors begin 2021 budget discussions
Wasaga Beach councillors have taken their first tentative steps into the debate on how to spend the taxpayers’ money in 2021.
At their Oct. 1 committee of the whole session, councillors received their first draft of the 2021 municipal budget.
In its first round, municipal staff estimate a tax rate increase of 3.6 per cent, which would equate to an increase on the municipal portion of the tax bill of $5.89 per month on a residential property assessed at $350,000.
Councillors will have a chance to dive deeper into the numbers on Oct. 22. The second draft is expected Nov. 12, in a meeting that will include a presentation and public meeting on the schedule for rates and fees.
A third draft, if necessary, would be reviewed by council on Dec. 3, with a public meeting on the municipality’s 2021 spending plans on Dec. 15.
It’s expected the 2021 budget would be approved by council on Dec. 22.
Spending in operations and on capital would increase by nearly $20 million over last year, to $94.4 million. A significant portion of the $52.5 million of the 2021 capital budget — about $23.6 million — would be dedicated to the start of construction of the new twin pad arena and library project, slated to be built on a River Road West site.
Another nearly $14 million would be spent on water, wastewater, and stormwater improvements, and $8.4 million on roads and bridges.
Treasurer Jocelyn Lee said there were several factors driving the increase in the $41.9-million operating budget, including staff benefits, cost-of-living increases, and wages increases, as a result of staff moving up the salary grid.
The numbers do not include any new hires. Lee said staff would be laying out its hiring plans for 2021 to council at a future meeting.
Other items in the first draft of the budget include $1.5 million for a possible partnership with the Simcoe County District School Board on the proposed elementary school in the Sunnidale Trails project; $40,000 for an affordable-housing strategy; and $2.3 million for new and replacement vehicles.