A three-day scrutiny of Amherstburg’s proposed 2016 budget by town councillors will leave residents facing a modest tax increase if it’s formally adopted in two weeks.
Council wrapped up deliberations Wednesday with a proposal calling for a 2.25 per cent increase in taxes.
That would add $38.05 to the tax bill for a home with an average assessment of $191,000.
“I don’t anticipate it’s going to stay there,” Mayor Aldo DiCarlo said of the increase.
Council will look at adopting a budget at its Dec. 14 meeting when they still must address what’s been described as an “aggressive” organizational restructuring that calls for adding nine staff positions next year.
Deliberations over the past three days did not consider any of the costs associated with new hires.
Administration is looking to add two directors, a financial analyst, two building inspectors, a drainage supervisor, an engineer technician, a part-time health and safety officer and a bylaw enforcement officer. Administration places the net effect of the new positions at $465,174.
Council is awaiting a comprehensive report from chief administrative officer John Miceli on those positions to be presented Dec. 14.
Council did approve in principle an operating budget of $24.5 million, a capital works budget of $2.6 million, a water operating budget of $4.5 million and a wastewater budget of just over $6 million.
The numbers for both water and wastewater reflect a balanced budget with a zero per cent increase in 2016.
“We recognized that from a water and wastewater perspective that our rates were some of the highest in the region,” Miceli said. “That’s a concern not only for the residents but for us in administration.”
Amherstburg wastewater rates are the highest among all eight communities within Essex County while water rates are the third highest.
Todd Hewitt, manager of engineering operations, said a “status quo budget” was possible by delaying a capital project for one year.
The bulk of the capital works budget, namely $1.2 million, is earmarked for road repairs. The major undertaking involves reconstruction of Alma Street between Howard Avenue and Walker Road at a cost of $750,000.
Also earmarked for 2016 is $163,000 for paved shoulders along County Road 5 between Texas Road and County Road 10 as part of the County Wide Active Trail System.
