South Frontenac Budget Review

Wilma Kenny | Feb 22, 2023

South Frontenac Council met on February 16 for what was booked as an all-day session to review the Township’s 2023 budget prior to its coming forward for approval in early March. This year’s process was a far cry from earlier years, when the air had been filled most of the day with dramatic and sometimes ferocious arguments while the overall tax rate for an average house assessment* was painfully whittled down to 2%, at Mayor Vandewal’s insistence. This year’s budget came in at 2.62%.

But this year by the time they wound up for lunch, the whole 74-page document had been reviewed, and the event had turned into a love-in. There was lavish praise from all of Council for Treasurer Shelley Stedall’s presentation of a professional, thorough, data-based budget intended to be a living document, open to revision and adjustments throughout the year to come. Stedall in turn thanked her fellow staff members for all their contributions to the long, detailed report.

Vandewal himself, admitting that in 20 years he had never voted for any tax increase over 2%, said “Staff’s really on top of this; everything we’ve asked for is there, and we’re providing a higher level of service than ever. I can’t vote no!” Morey agreed: “A point 62% tax increase (over previous years) isn’t enough to throw the wheels off the bus.” Ruttan and Pegrum praised the data-based decisions staff had made, and Deputy Mayor Sleeth, congratulating staff for their professionalism, made the motion to adopt the budget as presented: this motion will have to come forward formally at the March meeting of Council.

The full document is available for study on the Township’s website, under the agenda for the March 17 COW.

(*currently $278,387 - still based on MPAC’s 2016 assessment rate, thanks to Covid)