I struggled with what to call this blog post, because there’s so much on this week’s council agenda to talk about that you really just need to come see for yourself! If you’ve never been out to a council meeting before, this coming meeting (Monday, March 25 2024) is a good one to come to.Continue reading “Come and See!”
Tag Archives: budget
Councillor Training & Conferences
The last few weeks there’s been some local controversy over increases in the municipal budget related to the role of councillors. The Committee of the Whole ultimately passed a pay increase for councillors that collectively amounted to ~$30k, but it was noted that the overall council budget increased by ~$60k. The rest of the increaseContinue reading “Councillor Training & Conferences”
Tax Increases, and What’s Driving Them
On Monday night we’ll be looking at the 2024 budget, and you can see the draft budget here. As it currently sits, we’re looking at an overall budget increase of almost 9%, and a tax increase of just over 7%. I know that number will set off alarm bells for some, even though it’s aboutContinue reading “Tax Increases, and What’s Driving Them”
How We Budget
It’s budgeting season again, and counting the 2023 budget (which was completed early in the year) and the Lower Trent Conservation Authority budget (which was completed this week), my third time through the process this year. I’ve noticed a few approaches to budgeting that, while common, concern me. Hold the Line The first is theContinue reading “How We Budget”
Budgets and the Cost of Councillors
Across Ontario, municipalities are approving budgets. It’s always a controversial time: my top priorities for spending might be your lowest priorities, and there’s always pressure to keep taxes low (yes, I say KEEP taxes low, because whatever you’ve heard our taxes are relatively quite low). Any spending at all is a travesty, according to some.Continue reading “Budgets and the Cost of Councillors”
Municipal Budgets 1: Taxes
It’s that time of year. I suspect that we choose January and February to do most financial activities because it’s the one time of year that there isn’t anything more interesting going on. Can you imagine trying to write a budget document or file your taxes in July, when you’d rather be at the lake?Continue reading “Municipal Budgets 1: Taxes”