Belleville Mayor Neil Ellis has been hard at work with city staff to prepare the 2024 operating budget and that effort will soon bear fruit.
The 2024 operating budget will be presented to members of council later this month for discussion and approval.
Mayor Ellis and city staff have been working hard to keep the tax increase below a target maximum of five per cent. Even with this constraint, Mayor Ellis says they are expanding vital services to keep up with growing demand.
“We haven’t hired any police since 2015. This budget has a plan to hire eight officers this year to increase the complement,” said Mayor Ellis.
While Belleville’s police force expands, its fire department will too. Calls for firefighters are up 20%, and Mayor Ellis says they need more hands to handle the work.
“Over the next three years, we’re looking at 12 new firefighters. Four of these will be platoon chiefs,” said Mayor Ellis. “And we are moving four dispatchers to firefighter duties.”
The operating budget also includes additional funding for homeless support.
Mayor Ellis said that they planned to keep the increase to the budget low, despite the challenges they face in the budget process.
“There’s some pressure points,” said Mayor Ellis. “A lot to do with inflation. And again, we are expanding services.”
Operating budgets have already been approved in Quinte West and Prince Edward County, with tax increases of 6.7% and 5.4% respectively.
