Huron County council has directed staff to prepare a budget with a 5.54% tax increase.
The 2024 budget will return to council for final approval at its March 6 meeting.
Council discussed several adjustments that would affect the yearly increase, including moving three contract positions to full-time employment: Economic Development Coordinator, Museum Education and Programs Coordinator, and Homelessness Program Coordinator.
Goderich Mayor Trevor Bazinet argued that if council didn't go through with it, they could lose good employees at those positions.
However, Bluewater Mayor Paul Klopp said that ultimately, they couldn't make the decision based on who held those positions currently.
"I think the argument is, it's about keeping budgets and trying to keep control," said Klopp. "Our budget has increased, and it does every time. I think we've got to remember it's about the position... I've seen it happen, voted to keep things going, and at the end of the day, people come and go."
Other potential adjustments include deferring Treasury Office renovations, reducing proposed increases to winter maintenance costs, and pulling $100,000 from the $900,000 Water Source Protection Program reserve to reduce the overall levy requirement.
Staff said they will use discussions by council to determine which other adjustments will be made to get the budget down to that number.
Council also denied a funding request from the Menesetung Bridge Association as part of its discussions.
The association was seeking financial support for a $250,000 grant application being submitted through the FedDev Ontario Tourism Development Program.
That would require a $180,000 contribution from the County of Huron.
However, county staff say a grant moratorium was put in place due to the number of community groups coming forward looking for funding.
