Lambton County Council has approved a 2020 budget that comes with an above-inflation rate hike of 3.42 per cent on the county portion of property tax bills.
The $220.7 million budget was passed unanimously with no cuts Wednesday morning in Wyoming.
$80.2 million will be raised through local property taxes.
Warden Bill Weber said he was pleased council had a "fulsome debate on it."
"I'm very pleased that staff once again brought an excellent budget that was practical and continued the level of service that we have," said Weber. "We've had some provincial downloading, we've put that in place and looked after it through our taxation."
Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley said they had to absorb almost a million dollars in additional costs for the health unit from the Doug Ford government.
"It's a quality of life budget though," said Bradley. "The county has kept the level of services that they had before and is trying to deal with a very demanding, challenging situation. The world is changing right now, we've got a lot of pressures on us, but they've managed to get through it and I think in general terms, it's a responsible budget."
County politicians deferred a request from Bluewater Health to the 2021 budget cycle for $1 million a year for the next 10 years to support capital needs at the Sarnia and Petrolia hospital sites and develop the residential withdrawal management program.
"It wasn't a denial," said Bradley. "It was simply saying, come back with a package, prioritize the three projects and tell us when you would need funds from the taxpayer."
Petrolia Mayor Brad Loosley said it was unfortunate Bluewater Health didn't clarify its request more.
"Yes, we've got some money for the emergency [department renovations], but we're still looking at another $5 million just to get the electrical caught up. That's not included in that and you have to remember, that money only does the work inside, it does not include any equipment, furnishings, that has to all be raised locally."
County council turned down a grant request from Victoria Playhouse Petrolia for $1 million, paid over five years, for capital improvements.
"I am a little disappointed that they didn't support this project because that $200,000 [each year] is a drop in the bucket that's needed to complete this facility," said Loosley. "It's been such a success. When you look at 40,000 to 50,000 people, 90 buses come in and the spin-off effect which is $4 to $5 million dollars a year."
A $75,000 one-time funding request from the Kiwanis Club of Forest to assist with capital renovations to the Kineto Theatre in Forest was also turned down.
Council directed $12.1 million into reserves to help finance big-ticket items that may arise in the future or to help pay for unexpected emergencies.
Lambton County Councillors shared the floor with Nick Monsour Wednesday.
The 94-year-old retired engineer was given a seat and recognized as an honourary councillor Wednesday.
Sarnia council gave Monsour an honourary title Monday night.
Lambton County Council welcomes honourary councillor Nick Monsour to the floor for budget deliberations Wednesday. March 4, 2020 Photo by Melanie Irwin.
