The Municipality of Bluewater has approved its budget.
At this week's meeting, Mayor Tyler Hessel explained the increase in dollars, year to year, is just over $100,000 and that translates into an increase of 1.32%. But he says when that's blended with the county and education rates, the result is a slight decrease for most taxpayers.
He says the average home in Bluewater is valued at about $267,000 and everyone in that area or below will see a slight decrease. Anyone owning a home over that average will see a slight increase.
Hessel adds one of the major expenses, once again, is one the municipality can't control and that's OPP costs. And he expects that to go up again next year because he believes much of the cost involved in implementing the legalization of marijuana will be passed on to the OPP and to local health units.