By the end of this week, Bradford West Gwillimbury residents can expect to know how much their taxes are increasing, as town council starts 2019 budget talks Wednesday morning.
Budget discussions, taking place in the Zima Room of the BWG Public Library, are expected to run Jan. 30-31, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
According to a draft budget, the town is considering raising property taxes between one per cent and five per cent, which would mean an increase of $165.99 to $225.12 per household, respectively.
Under a one per cent scenario, the town could maintain minimum levels of service, as well as hire two fourth-class firefighters and a part-time park operator for Holland Marsh berm cutting, and add funding to its gravel road maintenance, read the draft budget.
Under a two per cent scenario, the town could do all of the previous scenario, as well as add funding for a cost of living adjustment for non-union staff, and allocate for 1/3 tax exemption for council.
Finally, under a five per cent scenario, the town could do everything in the previous scenarios, as well as enhance the current road, facilities and park maintenance levels of service, and add several staff positions: senior project manager, seasonal inspector for construction projects, landscape architect, seasonal public work operator, more part time and student staff resources in various departments, and make four seasonal park operators into two full-time positions.
The 2019 draft budget also outlines a 1.5 per cent increase for water services, and a 6.1 per cent increase for wastewater.
Based on the average household consumption rate, the water/wastewater changes would mean a jump of about $46 per home, or about $8 bi-monthly.
“At this funding level, the Town is able to maintain minimum levels of service and increase the contribution to the Wastewater Reserve Funds by $250,000,” read the draft budget.
As well, the draft budget requests $7,785,000 in additional funds for several projects, including a second fire hall, minor roads reconstruction, southwest quadrant urban road rehabilitation, and town-wide modeling for transportation/water/wastewater.
Back in December, South Simcoe Police Chief Andrew Fletcher presented the service’s budget to BWG council of just more than $19 million — an increase of about $846,000, or 4.7 per cent, from its 2018 budget.
That would mean an increase of 0.6 per cent, or $3.75, for the average household in BWG.
