North Perth has finalized its 2024 budget.
Budget chair Neil Anstett says the process was challenging, but council feels confident it has come up with a solid final draft despite the financial climate we're all in.
"Things are costing more, that's the biggest thing we found during this budget process. You talk about inflation rates, you talk about prices for things as simple as fuel. It costs more to fuel our vehicles, to fuel and heat our buildings, all those sorts of things. So I think the biggest thing we saw is everything is costing so much more, and on top of that, the competing priorities throughout many different regions and factors in our municipality have contributed to that, I think," Anstett explained.
The 2024 residential levy impact is about 6.58 per cent, or approximately 39 cents per day. Anstett says he's confident council and staff did the very best they could to come down to that number, with the financial landscape as volatile as ever.
"One of the things that we really tried to work on was a budget that accomplished what we needed to in terms of infrastructure and new developments and that sort of thing. But also, taking care of things that had been pushed off from previous years. So the original levy increase came in higher, and we went back to staff and sort of sharpened our pencils to get down to the 6.58 per cent. So obviously, it is still an increase, but I'm comfortable with that number and that's where we landed," said Anstett.
Some major projects are on tap this year, with a total project cost estimate of just over $25 million. Roads and bridges are obviously part of that, but Anstett points out some other key projects, as well.
"We've got some playground equipment going in the Memorial Parks in Listowel and Atwood, also the aquatic facility. We're going to have to start looking at replacing the Listowel pool, so starting that process, as well. The Davison Pump Station. But a big one that's been out there is the Transportation Master Plan. So we have to set some funds aside for that because, as anyone who's travelled in Listowel knows, traffic, we certainly need to make some steps to address that," Anstett added.
Carryover projects from last year represent about 38 per cent of the overall amount.
Anstett adds they actually got the budget process started earlier this year to get done sooner, with Anstett being elected budget chair back in August.
"And we had our first visioning session meeting in September. So I think that was crucial that we moved things up. I always like to say, it's one of my biggest pet peeves, is that around the beginning of the year, you're always behind the 8-ball if you don't start the budget process sooner. So I think by doing that, we were able to get a better picture of where we are, and get our tax number out to the citizens closer to the new year," Anstett shared.
View the full 2024 Operating and Capital Budget Report available on the North Perth website: www.northperth.ca/budget.