A 2.89% tax rate increase is coming to municipality of Bluewater residents as council approved their 2020 budget recently.
Some provincial funding reductions, as well as an increase in police costs contributed to some obstacles staff and council faced, says mayor Paul Klopp.
They also reviewed an integral department, and by adding a body to it they’ll manage to save money long-term, Klopp explained.
The tax rate increase means property taxes will increase by $86.74.
Almost $46,500 is what council agreed to add to the police budget this year, Klopp said it’s in order to maintain with increase usage of fuel, equipment, and wages.
They were able to utilize surpluses from the past two years which was around $1 million which they used in this budget, while keeping $300,000 in reserves to use it for next year, in case unanticipated expenses come to the forefront.
