Midland's draft budget features lower than anticipated tax hike

Midland’s draft budget includes a number of municipal improvements with a lower than anticipated tax hike.

The draft budget was presented by staff recently to the incoming Midland councillors at their first meeting.

Town staff noted that the proposed budget is “a balanced approach to maintaining or improving services while keeping the tax rate below the rate of inflation, a situation that has brought about uncertainty and pressure for the town, its residents and businesses, and across Canada and globally.”

The staff proposal creates an estimated tax rate increase to the base budget, including one-time adjustment equalling 2.19 percent.

But on top of that are increases totalling 1.64 percent from items approved by the outgoing council involving free downtown parking, transit and the boat launch, which brings the overall tax increase to 3.83 per cent.

This overall increase equates to a $4.13 increase per month per $100,000 of property assessment to support town services (before council/committee requests, service level change requests, agencies, boards and commissions and sustainable capital levy).

Mayor Bill Gordon said that while he knows there’s quite a bit of work left to do, he’s satisfied with the draft budget presented to council.

"I'm very happy because the prediction was we were going to be staring down a five or six (percent increase) right out of the gate, and I'm very happy that the number is a lot lower than that out of the gate,” Gordon said.

"I know we haven't seen the ABCs (agencies, boards and commissions) fully involved yet, and we still haven't seen council submissions and wishes.”

Other increases include a five percent jump in the water rate that will equal to about $1.72 increase per month for a typical user. As well, the wastewater rate will increase four percent leading to a $1.56 increase per month for a typical user.

Highlights of the draft budget include upgrades to Little Lake Park, Tiffin Park, Pete Pettersen Park and the waterfront trail along with the launch of the downtown and attainable housing community improvement plan.

There are also community safety enhancements included for town buses such as automatic radio announcements of bus stops and visual bus stop displays to assist passengers with visual or hearing challenges.

And then, there’s the looming question regarding Midland Bay Landing and exactly what will happen to that property with regards to development, which the town noted “could provide unprecedented public access and reinforce the town’s financial reserve capacity.”

Gordon said the public is also encouraged to submit their budget questions for council’s consideration as part of their review.

“And, of course, we haven't looked at what the options are for whittling that down that you've suggested in the budget package,” Gordon said. “I look forward to that, as do many people in the community."

Questions or comments regarding the budget can be submitted to [email protected] by January 18 when a public budget meeting is slated to occur. And then the following week, council and staff will hear presentations from agencies, boards and commissions.

The draft budget is available to view here.

-with a file from Derek Howard