PEMBROKE — County of Renfrew Warden Peter Emon and Councillor Walter Stack, Chair of the County’s Finance and Administration Committee, led the annual County of Renfrew Budget Workshop. The pair commended elected officials and County staff on the delivery of the 2015 budget. After adjusting for a 1.45 per cent growth in Current Value Assessment (CVA) across the county, the real impact to the County ratepayers will be 2 per cent.
In 2014 County Council gave direction to the chief administrative officer and staff to hold the line on budget increases to two per cent or less (excluding revenue from new assessment growth), with the goal of minimizing the financial impact on Renfrew County residents.
“County Council worked together with staff to create a balance between minimizing tax increases while still delivering high quality programs and services,” said Warden Emon. “ It can be very challenging, but together as a council we found ways to reach a final budget that was very responsible, and struck an excellent balance of maintaining services levels, and invested in our infrastructure while keeping the tax increase to the Council directed 2 per cent.”
Some of the highlights of this year’s budget include:
• The 2015 County budget levy was set at $38,697,229
• The levy increase for the County of Renfrew is $1,290,427 over the 2014 levy, with $542,399 coming from real assessment growth and $748,028 (2 per cent of the levy) coming from existing assessed properties.
• For a residential property assessed at $200,000 in 2014 and increasing by the average assessment change of 4.1 per cent to $208,200 the County taxes will increase from $709.98 in 2014 to $724.25 in 2015 ($14.27).
Coun. Stack complimented County of Renfrew council and staff on their efforts to find savings within their respective areas of the budget.
He said, “County Council and staff are focused on quality assurance, efficiency, and transparency; with affordability being the primary focus in the budget decision process. The new Council along with staff worked in an engaged and efficient manner to ensure that the County of Renfrew continues to provide quality services to our community.”
The 2015 budget lays the foundation for the roll out of the County’s Long Term Financial Plan that will be brought forward for consideration in February or March. The Long Term Financial Plan will provide direction as to how the County’s Asset Management Plan will be financed over the next ten years.
A recommendation for the 2015 budget to be officially adopted as a By-law was passed at yesterday’s county council meeting.
