During its third night of budget deliberations held last night, Chatham-Kent council in a narrow 9-8 vote, approved its 2023 budget, which features a 5.64 percent tax increase.
The motion to approve the budget was made by Councillor Lauren Anderson and was voted on with no comments or questions from the mayor or councillors.
The increase might cause taxpayers to experience sticker-shock, as the past five municipal budgets all had increases of less than three percent.
The draft budget, when first presented, started with a proposed 6.35 percent tax hike.
Chief financial officer Gord Quinton said approximately half of the increase is due to infrastructure repairs and improvements, and works out to roughly $178 more this year for the average homeowner.
Chatham-Kent council said yes to a $4.5 million funding request from the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance for its Wallaceburg site redevelopment, which will be paid over the next five years.
Councillor Aaron Hall brought in the motion, which was approved unanimously by council.
While the provincial government is expected to fund 90 per cent of the redevelopment costs, CKHA needs to fundraise the other 10 per cent—which is approximately $8.9 million. With the municipality’s commitment, the fundraising campaign is now well over half way to its goal.
Hall said the donation is an opportunity to set the tone for the fundraising campaign, and demonstrate leadership to residents, businesses and organizations that will fundraise the other $4.4 million that is needed. Hall said the redevelopment will not only benefit Wallaceburg but other surrounding communities as well.
The $4.5 million will come from the municipality’s strategic reserves, which helps to fund various community needs and requests. Chatham-Kent will pay $900,000 annually over the next five years.
Starting in 2017, Chatham-Kent has put aside 0.1 percent of the municipal budget in strategic reserves for community projects. As of last year almost $3 million has been collected.
Council also debated and approved spending extra money for bike pump track maintenance, a gravel road study, various parks and recreation initiatives and money for family physician recruitment. Some minor reductions were made to various projects and other spending.
Voting in favour of the budget were Councillors Lauren Anderson, Brock McGregor, Aaron Hall, Carmen McGregor, Marjorie Crew, Amy Finn, Alysson Storey, Trevor Thompson and Mayor Darrin Canniff.
Voting against approving the budget were councillors Conor Allin, Michael Bondy, Anthony Ceccacci, John Wright, Steve Pinsonneault, Ryan Doyle, Rhonda Jubenville and Jamie McGrail.