Chatham-Kent taxpayers will see a 2.79 per cent increase in their property tax bill in 2022.
It means the average Chatham-Kent home, assessed at $174,000, will see an additional $84 on their property tax bill this year.
Going into deliberations, the municipality projected a tax increase of 4.74 per cent for 2022, which would have cost homeowners an additional $142 a year.
City councillors closed off this year's deliberations by approving a two-part motion from Mayor Darrin Canniff to pull $130,000 in investment income out of general revenues, as well as about $95,657 in infrastructure spending.
"The effect of that is to cut a total of $225,657 from the taxes, which puts the new rate down to 2.79 per cent," said Canniff.
Adding that the conversation on Wednesday night was much better, Councillor Melissa Harrigan put forward the motion to adopt the 2022 budget, which the committee passed by a 10-8 vote.
The committee reverted to council for the official approval of the budget, which passed 11-7.
After four nights of budget deliberations, Canniff said inflation is what fueled this year's budget increase.
"If inflation was at zero, we would have a 1.6-per-cent tax decrease," he said. "We were able to find savings throughout everything else. As well, we added to ambulance service and are spending $4 million more on capital. Inflation was the driver in this budget."
Councillor and Budget Chair Brock McGregor recognized the budget process was a challenge to do virtually, but thanked all who helped to make it run smoothly.
"This is our fourth and last time doing this together," said McGregor. "It's been a learning experience over the four years and I appreciate the time and patience it takes to get through this together. I look forward to what the next group of councillors and community members will do to move our community forward."