Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Greater Napanee will operate with a tax levy of $13.6 million in 2022, representing a 2.95 per cent increase over this year.
Greater Napanee council voted to accept the operating and capital budget as presented during their Dec. 14 meeting, which was held virtually via Zoom.
That increase computes to about an extra $11.54 per $100,000 property assessment. Given that the median residential assessment in Greater Napanee amounts to $215,000, the average homeowner is looking at a $25 increase to their municipal tax bill next year.
In total dollars, the tax levy increase comes to a rise of $392,557 compared to 2021. In presenting the figures to council, general manager of financial services/treasurer Paul Dowber highlighted some of the projects that contributed to the increase.
They include completing the strategic plan, a service review with organizational structure direction of town staff, facility plans based on the facility needs study with recommendations for a centralized administration building, completing a fire master plan, renewing 24.5 kms of surface treated and asphalt roads and replacing critical safety equipment for firefighters.
One proposed item that was deferred to next year’s budget deliberations was an $80,000 boat for Greater Napanee Emergency Services’ fire department.
The budget was the result of a series of meetings held Oct. 20, Nov. 17 and Dec. 1 to discuss the operating budget and to discuss needs for a detailed 10-year capital budget.
Council voted to approve the budget as presented and further that the necessary tax rate by-law be prepared to be formally approved in the new year.