Chatham-Kent councillors will begin chipping away at the proposed 2025 municipal budget tonight.
Part of the 2024-27 multi-year budget, the fiscal blueprint comes with a proposed tax increase of 5.96 per cent before deliberations begin.
The proposed budget increase includes 1.84 per cent to maintain existing municipal services, which is under current inflation levels of 2.5 per cent.
Another 2.06 per cent of the budget accounts for capital infrastructure costs, which include repairs, rehabilitation and replacement of existing roads, bridges, municipal facilities, and social housing among others. Funds for building new assets to provide service enhancements are also included.
Support for various social issues, including addiction and homelessness, account for another 2.06 per cent of the budget. Mayor Darrin Canniff has said the burden of these costs has been increasingly downloaded onto municipalities due to reduced funding from the provincial and federal governments.
The deliberation process begins at 6 o’clock at the Civic Centre, with time set aside Wednesday and Thursday, if necessary. The meetings will also be available online on YourTV CK’s YouTube Channel. If more time is needed, time has been set aside on December 3 and 4 to continue the discussion.
Deputations will be permitted during tonight’s meeting. Requests and submissions must be sent by email to [email protected] before noon.
