Perth County has completed the 2024 budget.
Corey Bridges, Manager of Finance and County Treasurer, says the pressures of inflation made the process difficult this year and increased costs across the board led to a difficult but smooth budget process.
"That is essentially where we got to with the tax levy increase that we're seeing here at 12.31 per cent. It's that greater demand on municipal services that they're increasing the pressures in relation to housing, shelter, healthcare, social services. All those things are driving the costs to maintain these service levels for Perth County citizens," Bridges shared.
Bridges notes the levy increase actually could have been higher if not for a dip into reserves.
"It does incorporate the use of municipal reserves to bring that percentage down. We used about $580,000 from reserves this year. That equates to about three percentage points for the county. We're using the reserves we have to try to maintain these things," said Bridges.
The budget does include a number of major capital projects, including completing one that began last year. Bridges notes that that would be the renovations of the Courthouse Campus in Stratford to improve administrative setup for staff and residents.
"That is a major project we have on the go. It's looking like it could hopefully wrap up around October of this year. But that is one of those big items. It's just over, for 2024 in terms of price tag, around $4 million but the total project cost when it's all said and done will be $5.4 million," he added.
Bridges points out that any budget always includes a number of roads projects, too.
"We're looking at doing Perth Line 44, as well as Perth Line 20. So those two projects, as well as, in conjunction with Oxford County, Road 101, so essentially the boundary road from Tavistock to New Hamburg. So those are some of the major projects we have on the go for 2024," he concluded.
Additionally, other notable projects include finishing and implementing the new county-wide Official Plan, and replacing some of the public works and emergency services fleet of vehicles.
The budget's 12.31 per cent levy increase amounts to $22,198,354, an increase of $2,432,781 from 2023. This includes a dedicated capital levy increase of 1.06 per cent to continue to move the County’s asset management plan forward. Operational levy increase will equate to 11.25 per cent and ensure the "maintaining of current service levels and addressing corporate priorities," according to an official budget release from the county.
“Council is confident that this budget supports the continued excellent programs delivered by the County,” added Perth County Warden Rhonda Ehgoetz. “I look forward to seeing the completion of some exciting projects in the County in 2024.”
“Staff work hard each day to deliver efficient and effective services across Perth County,” noted Lori Wolfe, Perth County CAO. “All of our programs and services are connected back to the goals and objectives of the County’s Strategic Plan and we appreciate Council’s support of that vision and the work we do.”
