West Grey Council has approved a budget for 2022 that includes one of the largest tax increases in all of Midwestern Ontario.
West Grey's tax increase for the upcoming year is 6.6 percent, representing an estimated overall tax increase of $53.38 per $100,000 of residential assessment.
In a release, Mayor Christine Robinson said "Budget deliberations are always a challenging but important task for council to work through. As a council, we must address immediate needs, plan for the future and provide programs and services that meet the needs of our community."
The average home in West Grey is currently assessed at $258,000, and will have an annual increase of approximately $138 in 2022 according to the updated numbers.
Mayor Robinson says the 2022 budget "will build on our successes while ensuring we continue making important improvements for the future."
Some budget highlights for 2022 include upgrades at fire stations across the municipality, two police cars, completion of the Garafraxa Bridge repairs and the launch of an online portal for property tax and water payments.