One thing is definite. Quinte West homeowners will be not be faced with an almost 10 per cent tax increase next year.
Due to several adjustments, city council began operating budget discussions Monday looking at an increase of just under seven per cent.
The biggest reason the increase could be lowered was the news that the provincial government was offering a one-time grant of $3 million
to Quinte West to make up for reductions in federal Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) transfers in the past three years.
The budget was not finalized and discussions will continue in the week of January 8. Prince Edward County council passed its 2024
budget Friday with a 5.4% tax increase.
Several decisions were made at Monday’s meeting which adjourned at noon due to a handful of councillors having prior commitments.
Some of those decisions are outlined below.
— The libary’s budget increase held to 7.5% instead of requested 20%
— Quinte Transit’s budget increase held to 7.5% instead of the requested 17.5%
— Quinte Recycling submitted a budget $200,000 less than originally presented to council
— Hastings County increase tentatively held to 7.5% instead of an estimated 11.4%. The caveat
with this item is that not only has county council not set its 2024 budget, many feel with increased demands for housing and other
social services the increase could well be higher than 7.5%.
— $150,000 will be donated to support next summer’s Quinte International Air Show. The money will be taken from the province’s PILT grant.
— Council has deferred any donation to the National Air Force Museum to at least 2025. The museum had requested $500,000 in each of the next
four years starting in 2024 to raise money for an expansion to be named Lancaster Hall.
— Council will grant a one-time payment to the YMCA of Quinte West of $30,000 instead of offering the requested $15,000 a month to cover
some of the facility’s operating costs. Council is asking for an update from a YMCA working group on membership growth and will consider other
funding options if necessary in its 2025 budget. Councillor Egerton Boyce said he wouldn’t support any grant to the YMCA saying the contract with
the Y should not be reopened but left as is, meaning council pays for the facility’s capital costs while the YMCA itself is responsible for operating
costs.
— Council will raise garbage bag tag prices to $3.25 a tag, up from $3, thereby raising an extra $150,000 revenue. Public Works Director Chris
Angelo told council that when garbage and organics collection costs were calculated, a $3.50 a bag charge would cover them, however, that price was
rejected by council.
— Council will raise property tax rebates for low income seniors and those on the Ontario Disability Support Program to $675 from $600.
— Council will increase revenue by around $150,000 by applying that amount from recent increases in returns on the city’s investments as interest
has been rising
— Staff had proposed the city add four new employees in 2024. No decision was made on that suggestion and will be back up for discussion in January.
Councillor Egerton Boyce pointed to 28 new hires since 2021. CAO David Clazie said outside consultants had studied Quinte West’s staffing as
compared to other similar municipalities finding that the city was seriously under-staffed. Clazie said the four new staff being proposed were needed to keep up with population growth which is averaging about 1.5% a year. Adding four staff to the full-time staff of 230 would be a 1.5% increase.
