Kincardine Council has started budget deliberations.
Treasurer Roxana Baumann says an overall tax-rate increase of 3.5 per cent is required this year in order to maintain existing service levels across the municipality.
As it stands in the draft version, an average residential property in Kincardine assessed at $275,000 would see an increase of 3.5 per cent, which translates to approximately $43.
The draft budget contains operating expenses of $23.8 million, compared with expenses of $22.6 million in 2019, representing an overall increase in expenditures of $1.2 million, or 5.4 per cent.
This includes $8.6 million for replacing the Huron Terrace Forcemain, and $2.75 million for rehabilitating the Queen Street bridge, combining for new debt of just over $11.3 million.
Baumann said if the new debt charges are excluded from the operating budget, actual expenditures increase by only 1.7 per cent ($394,000).
Mayor Anne Eadie commended staff for "painting a good picture" in its first presentation, but admitted the real fun will begin next meeting, where council will decide where to add or subtract "in order to come up with a reasonable increase in taxes."