Chatham-Kent budget: Councilors approve 4.99% hike

On the second night of deliberations, Chatham-Kent councilors passed the 2025 budget with a 4.99 per cent tax hike.

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There were a number of motions during Wednesday’s nearly two-hour meeting, with much of the discussion focused on reserves and the feasibility of using some of those funds to help mitigate the increase.

South Kent Coun. Ryan Doyle, with friendly amendments from his ward colleague Coun. Anthony Ceccacci, successfully moved that $250,000 from corporate sick provision and contract reserves be allocated to the strategic reserve for family physician incentives, with an additional $250,000 applied to reduce the tax hike.

However, councilors defeated a motion from North Kent Coun. Rhonda Jubenville to use just over $1 million in total from reserves allocated for investment fluctuation, facility replacement, buildings and Workplace Safety and Insurance Board senior services.

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West Kent Coun. Melissa Harrigan moved to accept the overall budget, which passed 13-5.

“There comes a time when there’s this balance between how much do we want to see a little bit lower of a number where we just chip away at this budget, but then what we’re doing is we’re putting at risk our priorities, our strategic plan, the needs of our communities,” she said.

Harrigan thanked the other councilors, as well as municipal staff, for their efforts. She said those at the table felt comfortable taking time to ask questions and understand the issues.

“I feel like respect and decorum are something that’s often taken for granted, so I really appreciated the last couple of nights that we had,” she said.

Budget committee members voting in favor were Mayor Darrin Canniff and councilors Conor Allin, Lauren Anderson, Brock McGregor, Carmen McGregor, Marjorie Crew, Amy Finn, Aaron Hall, Harrigan, Morena McDonald, Jamie McGrail, Alysson Storey and Trevor Thompson.

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Opposed were councilors Michael Bondy, Ceccacci, Doyle, Jubenville and John Wright.

After the vote, Canniff told council he had no intention to make any changes to the budget under the province’s Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act.

“I think we balanced strategic community needs with the current requirements,” he said.

It is the second year of Chatham-Kent’s 2024-27 budget process, which was adopted last year to assist with long-term planning.

The approved tax increase for 2025 works out to approximately $100 per $100,000 of residential assessment value.

Earlier this month, staff presented a draft budget with a 5.96 per cent proposed tax hike. This year’s initial increase was pegged at 8.17 per cent; however, some new efficiencies and a $2-million increase in Ontario Municipal Partnership funding resulted in a smaller starting figure.

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After Wednesday’s meeting, Chatham Coun. Brock McGregor, who was budget chair, said the multi-year process has its benefits, one of them being a big-picture view of the municipality’s finances.

“I think that it being a four-year budget process has really made it more apparent the cost of borrowing (from reserves) to artificially lower a one-year tax impact,” he said.

“What residents expect is for us to look for efficiencies and savings, and we found a significant amount through this process through staff work, through budget committee work. I think that’s where the focus of these processes needs to be.”

AROUND THE HORSESHOE

“I certainly understand the pressures that we have from constituents to keep taxes low … We have to make decisions that are going to keep the services … and keep the future going for where we see things going for Chatham-Kent.” – West Kent Coun. Lauren Anderson

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“(Taxpayers are) the end user and they’re the ones that will be affected by the decisions that we make. So, I think it’s prudent that we acknowledge the taxpayer and give thanks to them for supporting what we decide to do here in the council chambers.” – North Kent Coun. Rhonda Jubenville

“I think we’re in a good position relative to other communities. I think what we will see across Ontario is that municipalities have been very adversely impacted by a lack of provincial support, particularly with social issues.” – Chatham Coun. Brock McGregor

“Every year this term has been a challenging one financially … I think we do listen and take everyone’s feedback and input respectfully. I really appreciate that as well, because I know there is a variety of opinions on what that should look like.” – Chatham Coun. Alysson Storey

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