A Message from the Mayor
This is a new communications opportunity and at the end of each month I, along with the Chief Administrative Officer Brent Marshall, will be providing information on current issues. As it is early in the year, I thought it appropriate to talk about the budget that was just passed. Given that it is tax bill time, I’m sure it is not news that
Town Council approved the budget at a 3.9% increase - a 2.4% increase when blended with Halton Region and the school board. This translates to $20 on every $100,000 of residential assessment, with $14 going towards Town services and $6 towards the Region including the HRPS.
I know that some residents would like to have seen a lower increase. Council’s direction to staff was to deliver a package that maintained current service levels while ensuring we invested for the future. The increase has been the same for four years and this has been the Town’s strategy – continued investment to provide predictability and stability. By keeping a tax rate that is realistic and stable, we avoid years of catch up with high tax increases when we need to replace aging infrastructure.
The roads we drive, the parks we visit and the sidewalks we travel all come at a cost. Similarly, is ensuring the community’s safety and well well-being through the provision of fire services, libraries and recreational facilities. You can read more about the budget and the business plans at haltonhills.ca/financials. Keeping it real!
Rick Bonnette, Mayor
Comments