This article has been edited from a previous version.
Collingwood council could approve the budget and a little more than one per cent increase on your municipal tax bill as early as Monday.
At a Strategic Initiatives Committee (SIC) meeting yesterday (March 18), councillors took down the tax increase from a previously proposed 1.42 per cent increase to a 1.12 per cent increase, or about $25 more for a home assessed at $314,0000.
Monday’s meeting was an opportunity for councillors to ask questions of staff and revisit any decisions made at past committee meetings. Last week, the SIC approved a list of enhancements to the budget, bringing it from a decrease in the town portion of the tax rate to an increase of 1.42 per cent.
This week, Coun. Kathy Jeffery said she was “disappointed” council decided to add all the enhancements to the proposed budget in one move instead of individually.
She suggested removing the $93,000 enhancement for an additional full-time planner with heritage background. Everyone at the SIC meeting was in favour of this change. Coun. Yvonne Hamlin was the only councillor not at the meeting.
The capital levy is still proposed at .75 per cent, the same as last year.
Funds collected through the capital levy are used toward growth-related capital projects.
Treasurer Marjory Leonard suggested council increase the capital levy from .75 per cent to two per cent, which is an increase to the average property (valued at $314,00) from $16 a year to $43 a year.
The proposed budget will go to full council on March 25, where it could be approved by council vote. The meeting begins at 5 p.m. in the town hall council chambers.
To see the draft budget, click here.
