Municipal taxes in Chatham-Kent could rise 1.96% this year, but the good news is that there aren’t any major cutbacks or closures planned.
Chatham-Kent’s draft budget was presented Wednesday night, with the average household expected to pay about $3000 in tax this year, roughly $54 than last year.
Budget chair Derek Robertson says some extra funding from the province has helped to keep the proposed tax hike down.
“Because of that we’re able to accommodate the goals of council, which have been heavily focused, in particular over the last year, on improving or remedying the deficit that we have currently in our infrastructure, principally in our bridges and our roads.”
Five public meetings will be held next week before deliberations begin.
An open house is being held Tuesday at the Brunner Centre in Thamesville and Ryder Hall in Tilbury.
Meetings on Wednesday will take place at the Blenheim high school and Wallaceburg municipal office, and on Thursday at Chatham’s Active Lifestyle Centre.
All of the open houses run from 4:30-6:30pm.
Council will begin going over the finer details of the fiscal plan on February first.
