A 3.29% tax increase will serve as the starting point for Chatham-Kent Council, as they prepare for 2016 budget deliberations.
In 2015, councillors requested staff come up with a starting draft budget that contained a 2% base tax increase, along with an additional 1% increase for infrastructure needs. On Tuesday, officials returned with a 1.96% base increase, and 0.67% phase-in for infrastructure. The additional 0.67% comes from the province's required asset management contribution, and other legislated changes.
The draft budget doesn't come without a price though. Staff say they reached that number with the help of a proposed $900,000 in service cuts. Some of these cuts come in closures of the Bothwell Arena and Ridgetown Youth Centre. The CAO's office is also cutting back expenses by $14,000, and a reduction in councillor mileage and conference funding.
While Budget Chair Derek Robertson says this year's proposed service cuts aren't nearly as stringent as years past, this doesn't give them free reign to hack and slash programs.
"I'm sure we've heard from each and every Ward, related to the level of service they experience and enjoy, that they would prefer some caution as we proceed in our deliberations, and not act in too great a haste."
Through using reserves and using one-time revenues in the past couple years, council will have to make up an additional $1.1 million in 2016. Robertson adds they'll be able to perservere through this added challenge.
"There's an impact from deliberations from last year. But this is my sixth budget, and I've seen very similar results in most years when council attempts to tighten the belt. We all seem to survive and thrive through it."
Three budget open houses will take place next week before deliberations begin at the end of January. You can find the full budget process schedule here.
