Tecumseh home owners will see their property taxes go up around $122 this year.
Tecumseh Town Council approved the 2023 budget with a tax increase of 3.86 per cent or 3.42 per cent when consolidated with the County and education levy.
That equals about $122 for the average residential property assessed at $250,000 in 2016. The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation was due to reassess properties in 2020, but the assessment was not completed due to the pandemic.
“2023 is a difficult budget year,” said Mayor Gary McNamara. “While balancing the rise of inflation and market pressures, we preserved our contributions to capital and will continue to provide the services our residents have come to expect and rely on. This budget also enables our own stormwater protection and growth objectives, as well as works towards Provincial housing growth requirements.”
The original draft budget called for a 4.42 per cent increase over 2022.
'We've been able to whittle it down without any impacts on capital, no impacts on servicing, and that for us, is a key component," said McNamara.
The increase in the budget comes from three main areas. It consists of 1.5 per cent towards capital and asset lifecycle funding, 1.4 per cent noncontrollable expense increases passed on to municipality (insurance, benefits, contracted services) and 1.0 per cent for general operating expenditures.
This year will bring some major capital projects. The capital budget includes upgrades to Lacasse Ball diamond, Lakewood Park washrooms and splash pad, and upgrades to the Scully & St. Mark's Storm Pump Station replacement.
