Chatham-Kent council is looking at a 3.12 percent increase in property taxes after the second night of 2021 budget deliberations.
Among the savings found by council was cutting $62,500 in winter salt for road maintenance. Previous councils had cut from the winter control budget to find savings, so to make up the deficit in winter control spending, council had intended to spend $125,000 a year for four years to make up the difference, but council decided last night to only spend half that amount in 2021.
Chatham-Kent’s CFO Gord Quinton cautioned council in cutting money for winter salt as it pushes the shortfall down the line and there will be a request for additional funding for salt next year to make up the deficit. The municipality takes the past five years to establish service and budget levels for winter road maintenance.
Council also debated the merits of cutting funds for affordable housing projects, but decided to not take away $200,000 from this year’s budget.
The next budget deliberation is set for Feb. 2. If more time is needed to adopt the budget, council could meet up on February 3 and 4.
