Norfolk County ratepayers facing 4% property tax increase for 2025

Norfolk ratepayers bracing themselves for what they were told could be a more than an eight-per-cent increase in their property taxes this year are getting a break.

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The proposed 2025 levy operating budget of $136 million, presented to the budget committee (made up of council members) at a meeting on Wednesday, includes a projected four per cent tax increase for the average residential property. That’s about $145.

In a report to the committee, the county’s financial staff called it a “business as usual” budget that addresses inflation and financial sustainability goals, while also addressing some “critical needs of the corporation.”

The municipality’s operating budget covers day-to-day spending on services such as recreation programs, park maintenance, public health, city roads, garbage collection, delivery of safe drinking water, and emergency services.

Councilors were told in July the projected net levy hike was 8.5 per cent. At the same time, an average residential rate increase of 14 per cent was forecast for water and wastewater bills due to significant planned capital investments in those systems. The water and wastewater rate increase is now budgeted at 10.6 per cent.

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Councilors heard the lower projected tax bills resulted from an increase in provincial funding to the municipality, a reduction in billing for OPP services, and adjustments made to departmental budgets by county staff. Also offsetting the tax increase is assessing growth of about 1.2 per cent.

“In the financial climate we’re in today, I’m really shocked that the budget is what it is,” said Mayor Amy Martin, noting that nearby Wilmot Township is currently battling a 51 per cent property tax increase.

“While four per cent still is very difficult for a lot of our residents, we will take a lens from the top down and look at everything with prudent financial management,” said Martin at the start of budget deliberations, which could change the projected tax increase.

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However, the mayor endorsed the extra provincial funding and police dollars won’t likely be coming every year.

“It’s one-time, maybe two-time funding,” said Martin. “It won’t be relied upon in future years.”

Among the major budget drivers are $5.1 million for infrastructure upgrades; $2.4 million for service level changes; $1.8 million for salaries and benefits; and $917,000 for OPP services.

The budget includes the hiring of nine new staff members at a total cost of $1.18 million. They include:

• Four full-time supervisors to provide 24/7 support to frontline staff. ($301,000, 50 per cent funded)

• A full-time realty services specialist ($150,000) to assist with the increased demand and allow for the centralization of leases, easements and encroachments.

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• A full-time facilities project lead ($131,000) to address deferred capital maintenance and improve focus on customer service.

• A full-time transportation development specialist to help manage and maintain the county’s transportation system.

• A full-time network/system analyst ($109,000) to enhance the reliability and security of the county’s IT infrastructure.

• A full-time employee for the stormwater management program. The $346,000 cost includes the program operating budget and a staff member to do inspections, repairs and maintenance on urban stormwater systems.

The budget committee is hearing individual budget presentations from each of the county’s departments and could make changes. A second budget meeting is scheduled for Thursday, if needed.

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The committee will also be considering several “discretionary” requests. They include $25,000 for the North Shore Resilience Project; removal of a levy reduction of $317,000 from marina revenues; the hiring of a full-time manager of programming and outreach, a part-time training and development coordinator and two part-time library assistants for the Norfolk County Public Library; and a four-per-cent budget increase for the Haldimand Norfolk Housing Corporation.

Treasurer Amy Fanning told advisors financial stability continues to be a critical priority for Norfolk County.

“It is no secret that Norfolk is in a challenging financial position. The cost of capital needs for asset repair and replacement is rising faster than reserve transfers and this is leading to increased levels of debt being projected for the organization. Additionally, as the population of the county continues to grow and the legislative and environmental landscape continues to change, so do the staffing levels required to provide the services that residents expect and deserve.”

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