Wednesday's Northumberland County council saw approval of the county's 2023 budget at a 6% increase after growth.
This consists of a base-levy increase of 4.9% (just below the 5% target set by council) and a 1.1% increase to the dedicated infrastructure levy – a charge introduced in 2015 to address a widening funding gap for repair, maintenance and development of critical infrastructure.
The total county levy for 2023 amounts to $68.1-million and makes up approximately 32% of the county's total budget of $213.6-million. The remaining 68% comes from a combinations of grants and subsidies from other levels of government, debt and reserves for financing large capital projects and initiatives (like the new Golden Plough Lodge-Northumberland County Archives and Museum building), fees for service and other revenue-generating activities.
The overall estimated increase for a median single-family detached Northumberland County home is $80.56 in annual property taxation. This estimate is subject to change, based on tax policy and information from the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation, which will be finalized this spring.
The approval of this budget marks the conclusion of a rigourous and transparent review-and-planning process that began last May and included public engagement and input on services and priorities.
“Council understands these are challenging times for residents who are being impacted by economic factors like cost-of-living increases and on-going recovery from COVID-19,” Warden Mandy Martin said in the announcement.
“In June, county council directed staff to keep any base-levy increase below the inflation rate. And through careful scrutiny and deliberation over the last several months, this has been achieved.”
Martin acknowledged the significant financial pressures to maintain service levels and programs while keeping affordability for Northumberland residents front-of-mind. She cited the effects of inflation and interest rates on the cost of delivering county services, as well as impacts to construction projects currently under way or planned. As well, the county is having to offset a reduction in revenues triggered by changing provincial legislation and certain provincial programs coming to an end.
“I believe we have been able to strike a balance between preserving a sustainable, livable community with quality services residents can depend on each and every day, and the need to ensure responsible long-term financial stewardship,” she commented.
“We used every tool in the tool kit to find efficiencies and reduce costs without impacting levels of service. And we continue to leverage economies of scale through innovative and collaborative partnerships.”
The press release listed some of the highlights of this year's budget.
Purchase of three new ambulances and support for preliminary work on a joint paramedic-fire-emergency services base in Brighton.
Advancement of the public-private partnership to deliver broadband high-speed Internet connectivity to unserviced and underserviced residents.
Continuation of the Commuter Connect regional transit pilot until September 2023, connecting Northumberland communities with each other and also providing shuttle service to the Oshawa GO station.
Continuation of major capital projects, such as the Golden Plough-NCAM build, the Elgin Park affordable housing redevelopment in Cobourg and the Campbellford Bridge.
Continuation of pre-construction work on Cobourg's Ontario Street affordable-housing development in collaboration with key partners.
Doubling of county investment in the homelessness system to support sustained funding levels following conclusion of provincial COVID-19 Social Services Relief funding.
Resurfacing and paving of 120 km. of roads throughout the county, along with the replacement of the Thompson Bridge in Trent Hills and bridge-rehabilitation work in Alnwick-Haldimand Township.
Funding of $250,000 for the county's two hospitals (Northumberland Hills and Campbellford Memorial) for essential capital equipment as part of a five-year $12.5-million investment launched last year.
Introduction of a mattress-diversion program at Community Recycling Centres that is projected to extend the life of the county's last remaining landfill by an extra year.
You can review 2023 department business plans and budgets, as well as a consolidated county budget, at Northumberland.ca/Budget