Ever upward

Council approves 7.9 per cent tax levy increase

For the 25th straight year, the tax levy in Prince Edward County is rising. Significantly.

Last week council approved Shire Hall’s 2023 operating budget of $71.6 million, compared to the $66.7 million budgeted last year. Of that, $47.3 million will be funded by property taxpayers. It is a 7.9 per cent increase over last year’s tax levy.

Staff wages and benefits account for a significant percentage (38.6 per cent) of the operating budget at $28 million—an increase of $2.5 million over last year.

The General Government line has been on a steady rise since 2018. That year, Shire Hall spent $10.4 million on council, management, the Clerk’s office, Information Technology, HR, etc. In 2023 Shire Hall will spend $18.2 million in General Government.

WATER AND WASTEWATER
Council passed the rate-supported operating budget for water and wastewater services in the amount of $11.4 million, compared to $10.5 million budgeted last year, a 9.2 per cent increase. Director Don Caza explained that the bulk of the operations budget in 2023 will fund increased operating costs anticipated by growth in the system.

PHYSICIAN RECRUITMENT
Council approved $250,000 for physician recruitment in the 2023 budget. This will be offset by $100,000 unspent in the program in 2022.

OTHER ITEMS
Council approved $427,390 to support several funding requests from community groups including; food security ($20,000, distributed to eight entities/programs); Prince Edward Fitness and Aquatic Centre; Prince Edward Learning Centre Tax Program; and Community Care for Seniors. Council also approved $247,069 for the three streams of the Municipal Community Grants Program administered by The County Foundation.

IN-HOUSE COUNSEL
Council approved $120,000 for a six-month contract for a municipal lawyer. The new position is anticipated to save the County on legal bills. Currently, The County pays between $250,000 to $300,000 annually on legal advice.

CAO Marcia Wallace said the idea was inspired by a similar move made by Northumberland County earlier this year.

“Northumberland had much less [legal cost] than we do, and they still found a way for this to be a savings,” said Wallace. The CAO said an inhouse lawyer would do much of the generalist legal work, including real estate. They would not, however, handle human resources files or big litigation.

ROADS
This year, the County will spend $9.2 million on road maintenance and winter control. Of those funds, $2.2 million will be spent on road surface maintenance and $598,500 for roadside maintenance in 2023. At the end of the budget deliberations on Friday, Councillor Janice Maynard tabled a successful motion to see an additional $340,000 be spent on hard surface shouldering and spot repairs.

RELIEF PROGRAMS
Council approved a Municipal Financial Relief Program to support low-income households in the County. The relief program began as a pilot in 2021 to assist families in paying their rising property taxes and water bills.

Households earning less than $32,240 (single income) or $64,480 (family income) can apply to the program. Qualifying tenants who pay for water and wastewater services can apply for a credit of up to $350 on their water bill. Qualifying homeowners can apply for a credit of up to $750 on their property tax account.

In addition, council directed staff to look at ways to provide a municipal financial relief grant to rural renters in 2024.