After several last-minute motions on Tuesday, Chatham-Kent councillors passed a budget with a 1.99-per-cent tax impact.
The third night of deliberations featured a number of discussions concerning new positions, as well as some measures to trim the hike by funding certain line items from reserves.
Council adopted the budget in a 12-6 vote.
“I think we got to a responsible place,” said Chatham Coun. Brock McGregor, budget chair, after the meeting. “I think it’s important to note that for five years in a row now we’ve seen a budget increase under inflation.”
He added that needed investments were made in infrastructure, along with maintaining municipal service levels.
However, there were challenges given the uncertainty of provincial funding during the process, McGregor said.
“Going into budget with an expectation of provincial funding, and not hearing about it in a timely manner, and really having that hang over our heads as an unknown makes funding really challenging,” he said.
“I think we’re going to experience a lot of that over the next few years. We’re going to have to be able to adapt to those situations.”
McGregor also expects there will be learning opportunities for the new council, which was elected last fall.
The 1.99-per-cent hike works out to approximately $57 annually on a home assessed at $168,000.
More to come.
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