Bruce County council has settled on a budget for 2019.
The corporate services committee voted unanimously to move the budget forward for final adoption, but not before adding $75,000 to the levy to complete a natural heritage study, which will be used as part of an upcoming official plan update.
Director of Corporate Services Bettyanne Cobean said the final tax levy increase will come in around 3 per cent after assessment growth of 1.3 per cent is factored in, resulting in a total tax levy of just under $47 million.
Cobean explained the increase to the taxpayer will be modest, despite the last-minute addition.
"It will mean an increase of $2.75 per $100,000 [assessed] household, so we've been able to add that $75,000 back in with minimal impact to the taxpayer," said Cobean.
Warden Mitch Twolan said it's a no-frills budget after staff were asked to pare down from an original proposed levy increase of about 8%.
"[Staff] whittled down to basically the bare-bones, obviously operations and wages took up a big chunk of this budget, there's no ifs, ands, or buts about it," said Twolan. "We are in the service industry, we have obviously, a lot of personnel needed for the services we provide to the residents of Bruce County."
The final budget is expected to be on the agenda for adoption during the March 7 council session.