North Frontenac Draft Budget Set To Increase Levy By 6.3%

Jeff Green | Feb 07, 2024

This week, North Frontenac Council had its first look at the cumulative numbers in the 2024 draft budget that has been prepared by treasurer Kelly Watkins.

Council is facing a proposed levy to North Frontenacs ratepayers of $7.28 million, a $433,000 (6.3%) increase from the levy in 2023

Because the township experienced assessment growth of 0.6% in 2023 due to new construction from previous years coming onto the tax rolls, most ratepayers will see a lower increase, $5.7% for local services, if council approves the draft budget as is.

Council had an opportunity to loon in detail at the draft budget at a 5 hour meeting on Tuesday of this week. They had already received some information about department budgets that make up the final budget document, but this was the first time they will aw the entire document and the final number.

The municipal tax bill that North Frontenac ratepayers receive includes the local levy, as well as the Frontenac County levy, and a provincial levy for Education. Frontenac County has completed their budget process, and the result was an increase of just under 4%, and the Education levy has no increase at all. Putting all of those rates together, the total tax rate for residents would be 4.2% higher than it was in 2023, if council leaves the budget

North Frontenac residents will be billed $1,127 for every $100,000 that their property is assessed at, up from $1081 in 2023, a 4.2% increase.

The draft budget would also see a net decrease in reserve funds of 6%, which remain quite healthy $8.58 million.

After hearing the staff presentations detailing the various department budgets, council made a couple of minor budget cuts totally less than $20,000, and followed a staff recommendation to separate out the 2024 capital and operating budgets. They approved the capital budget, which was down slightly from last year, thus allowing road projects and equipment purchases to proceed without any further delay.

They then set a new special budget meeting for February 16th at 9am, when they will likely finalise the operating budget.

At that time, they will also consider an idea that Mayor Lichty mentioned, a new 1% surcharge in the budget earmarked at the long term cost of maintaining the township’s fixed assets, such as roads, bridges and halls.