The coat-of-arms for the town of LaSalle, in council chambers. Blackburn News file photo.The coat-of-arms for the town of LaSalle, in council chambers. Blackburn News file photo.
Windsor

LaSalle approves 2021 municipal budget

LaSalle residents will see their taxes increase by 1.95 per cent next year.

Council approved the tax hike in principle as presented by the administration on Wednesday evening.

"This year, the budgeting process was not easy,” said LaSalle Mayor, Marc Bondy. “Administration knew that this was going to be a tough budget and all departments kept service level increases to a minimum or status quo."

The budget will require a $1.7 million levy increase over last year's budget, bringing the general levy to $38.4 million. The increase will also include approximately $342,800 for police services, $783,000 for inflationary pressures, $300,000 for long term capital contribution, and $287,200 for growth and service level increases.

The increase will also compensate for property assessment values not changing from last year. Due to the pandemic, the province has postponed municipal property assessments (MPA) that were originally scheduled to take effect on January 1. Property valuations will be based on 2016 values, and most will have an identical assessment as they did in 2020.

An average home in LaSalle valued at $256,000 (based on MPAC's 2016 assessment), would see an increase of approximately $48.13 on their property taxes. Taking into account the municipal, County of Essex, and education tax rates, the overall increase will amount to 1.32 per cent.

The 2021 budget by-law will be presented at a regular council meeting sometime in January.

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