The timelines for increased council compensation, an updated 2024 property tax levy, the increased cost to purchase a new pumper truck for the fire department and more are all on the agenda for Bradford West Gwillimbury’s regular council meeting set for 7 p.m. Tuesday evening in the Zima Room at the town's library.
Timing and extent of council raises revealed
A new council compensation bylaw sets out the timeline and amounts for phasing in raises for council members after those raises were approved at the last meeting on April 16.
Starting on June 30 of this year, the annual salary is set to increase for each of the seven ward councillors to $30,224.53 from $24,970, for the deputy mayor to $36,174.39 from $31,255, and for the mayor to $62,625.66 from $46,866, as that last position transitions from part time to full time.
By Jan. 1, those amounts are set to increase again for the councillors by $4,505.63, for the deputy mayor by $3,981.59 and for the mayor by $14,353.25.
Finally, on Jan. 1, 2026, the last phase of the increase is set to raise salaries for councillors to $39,235.79, for the deputy mayor to $44,137.57 and for the mayor to $91,332.16.
For each of those years, the increases are also set to include cost of living increases at the same percentage given to non-union employees each year.
The 2026 amounts in the bylaw are all slightly greater than what was approved in April, which was for councillors’ salaries to increase to $38,093, the deputy’s mayor’s salary to increase to $42,852 and the mayor’s salary to switch to full time and increase to $88,672.
Those figures were based on a report from the council compensation review committee, which originally recommended the raises take effect at the beginning of the next term of council anticipated to be Nov. 1, 2026.
For this year, the changes are likely to be retroactively added as an expense for 2024, with future increases to be included as part of the budget deliberations for 2025 and 2026.
According to the committee’s report, Bradford council’s compensation was last reviewed in 2015.
Residents get slight break on property tax bump
Despite council’s rising salary costs, the town’s 2024 property tax levy is actually set to increase a little less than expected.
According to a report from revenue manager Jackie Syme, the increase has been finalized at 4.21 per cent, or about an additional $217 for the average home, down from the 4.24 per cent (or about an additional $219 for the average home) approved by council on Jan. 16.
The town’s total tax rate also includes external factors including the police budget, County of Simcoe budget, and provincial education tax, and at the time of Bradford’s budget approval, the values for the county and education portions were still estimates.
With those values finalized, town staff were able to perform the final budget calculations, and the 2024 property taxes for all classes will be due on June 26 and Sept. 26, according to the report.
While property taxes cover about 43 per cent of the town’s operating budget, about 24 per cent is funded through water and wastewater rates and about 33 per cent comes from other revenue including provincial grants and subsidies.
Fire department pushes for extra $40K for new pumper
Bradford West Gwillimbury Fire and Emergency Services is looking for an additional $40,321.92 on top of the $1.47 million approved in the 2024 budget for a new pumper fire truck.
According to a report from legal, risk management and procurement manager Vanessa Morum, the funding is requested to come from roads and protection development charges after a quote from City View Specialty Vehicles came in higher than originally expected as a result of changes to the truck’s diesel engine in compliance with Environmental Protection Agency’s emission standards for 2027.
Because the truck is manufactured in the United States, fluctuating exchange rates are also cited as contributing to the price increase.
The total cost is now expected to be about $1.51 million, including the harmonized sales tax, and the vehicle was already ordered in the hopes of having it in service in time for Fire Station No. 2 to be operational near the Bond Head water tower.
Detailed design for that new station has yet to come before council, but during budget deliberations in January, it was revealed that the station is expected to share a three-acre site with a new public works yard, set to feature a sand/salt dome.
