KENILWORTH – Wellington North has passed its 2025 budget with a tax rate increase of 3.27 per cent.

“This budget reflects our commitment to maintaining the high-quality services our residents rely on while addressing the growing infrastructure needs of our community,” Mayor Andy Lennox stated in a news release.

Council voted to adopt the budget on Dec. 16 without any further discussion.

Reached via email, township treasurer Jeremiah Idialu told the Advertiser nothing new was added or removed from the budget since the previous draft was presented at council’s Dec. 2 meeting.

That meeting, held on a Monday at 2pm, was an opportunity for residents to make comments and provide input on the draft budget, but no members of the public spoke at the meeting.

• Wellington North council eyes 3.5% tax rate increase in 2025 budget

The draft that was initially presented proposed a 3.05% tax rate increase, but after some discussion, councillors asked for changes that would see an increased level of service at the Mount Forest Cemetery. 

The change added $20,500 to the overall operating budget, and brought the tax-rate increase up to 3.27%.

The total tax levy for 2024 was $9,646,763; for 2025 it is $10,723,018, Idialu said.

This actually means an increase in the tax levy of 11.16%, but because of assessment growth in the township of 7.89%, the impact to existing taxpayers is reduced to an increase of 3.27%.

For “a typical single-family residential property in the township assessed at $271,636,” that means an increase of $47.80 for the year on the township’s portion of the property tax bill, the release stated.

Asked whether $271,636 was considered an average assessed value for residential properties in the township, Idialu said, “Property taxes are based on 2016 MPAC (Municipal Property Assessment Corporation) assessments.

“The provincial government hasn’t updated the assessment values used for property taxes for several years now.”

The 2025 budget includes a nearly $12.7-million capital program, the release said, listing the following “key highlights:”

• Arthur and Area Community Centre (Upper Hall renovation), $332,000 ;
• former Arthur Municipal Office renovation, $580,000;
• new service club and community board signs, $82,500;
• Trail Master Plan, $60,000;
• construction of Draper Street between Eliza Street to Anderson Avenue, and Anderson Avenue between Draper Street and Gordon Street in Arthur, $2,437,975;
• reconstruction of John Street between Waterloo Street and Queen Street in Mount Forest, $1,905,406;
• rural asphalt resurfacing, $1,562,169;
• urban paving program for 2025, $331,725; and
• Hutchison Park playground upgrades, $160,000.

These projects align with recommendations of the township’s 2024 Asset Management Plan, which identified a need for an $18.9-million annual capital investment toward future infrastructure needs, the release stated.

“While the township is still working towards the $18.9-million target, this budget represents a positive step towards addressing long-term infrastructure investment needs,” the release added.

“Despite the inflationary challenges we face, we have strategically allocated resources to ensure sustainable growth and development,” Lennox stated in the release. 

“I am confident that these investments will enhance the quality of life for all our residents and support the continued prosperity of Wellington North.”

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