SOUTH STORMONT, Ontario – The Mayor and Council of the Corporation of the Township of South Stormont has completed its review and approved in principle the 2018 budget, its impacts and highlights, excluding water and wastewater. The water and wastewater budget is underway and set to be presented to Council early in 2018.
At its regular meeting on December 13th, 2017, Council confirmed that there will be no municipal tax rate change in 2018. This means that for every $100,000 residential assessment, four hundred and twenty six dollars ($426) of municipal taxes are owed. The Township will realize an increase in tax revenue through higher assessment values for the average home owner. Throughout 2017, growth for single-family detached residences increased 2.36%, thereby resulting in an overall higher assessment value and increased tax dollars. The Corporation’s total budget, excluding water and wastewater, is $14.14 Million.
The Township of South Stormont is responsible for the billing and collection of the property taxes for the Stormont Dundas and Glengarry (SDG) County and the education taxes. At this time, the SDG County tax rate is to be confirmed and the education tax rate, set by the province, is not known.
“The township continues to have positive population growth and we expect this will continue. However, growth equates to more services required which results in additional expenses”, said Mayor Bancroft. “South Stormont’s infrastructure commitments, especially in anticipation of an updated Asset Management Plan, are enormous. Infrastructure investment is essential. There are a lot of capital assets requiring attention and, quite frankly, not enough federal and provincial dollars to assist us.”
The 2018 municipal budget includes routine operational expenses, some monies added to reserves, along with the following highlights of major municipal projects:
The purchase of a new and innovative Fire and Rescue Tanker Pumper valued at $495,000;
Building renovations to the Fire and Rescue Station 1 and the main Public Works garage for a total of $52,000;
The demolition of the former St. Andrews West Fire Station is estimated to cost $150,000;
The purchase of a new Public Works loader that was originally set to be purchased in 2017 and delayed to fully utilize the life of asset and a new half ton pick-up truck for a total cost of $167,000;
Road works including sidewalk replacement, installation of additional streetlights, Fairground Drive and Cedar Street reconstruction including the replacement of the Fly Creek culvert as the project was carried forward to 2018, Goldfield Road culvert, 2.2 kilometers of Anderson Road East, Island Road East, Delaney Road south of County Road 18 to Island Road, Sunset Drive on Moulinette Island for a total capital investment of $3.765 Million.
Federal gas tax funding and provincial funding will assist with these capital projects;
Planning projects to develop land for a total of $414,000, which includes an environmental study of $120,000. If successful, a Green Municipal Fund Grant will assist with the environmental study;
A Development Charges Study is set to take place in 2018;
Parks and Recreation will be investing $290,000 for projects such as further development of the Ingleside Community Park, purchase of park bleachers and picnic tables, and replacing the dehumidifier at the arena;
There will be a continuation of the Community Improvement Plan (CIP) program offered to business owners. In 2017, the program dollars
recognized $356,500 of private investment.
Ratepayers are assured the level of service for 2018 remains status quo. The 2018 budget documents are available on South Stormont’s website. The financial position is expected to be presented to the public by the municipal auditor following the completion of the 2017 year-end audit which is anticipated for May, 2018.
