Brighton council will meet at the committee level Friday, Feb. 7 at 9 a.m. to continue budget deliberations.
According to the agenda, among the focus areas for Friday include grants-in-aid requests, along with department presentations.
In municipal staff’s second draft of the 2025 budget, the tax hike has been reduced to 5.1 per cent – however, this figure doesn’t incorporate further deliberations and decisions made in relation to grants, reads CAO Elana Arthurs’ report, which is attached to the committee-of-the-whole agenda for Friday, Feb. 7.
Following Friday’s meeting, and pending council approvals, staff will zero in on the proposed increase, which will be presented at a 2025 public budget meeting and presentation anticipated on Feb. 18.
Municipal staff presented the first draft of the capital budget on Jan. 15, and the first draft of the operating budget on Jan. 29. Following these presentations, council directed staff to review initial drafts again, looking for potential savings and to return with a second draft for council consideration.
In Arthurs’ report, it details that the first draft was presented with a 7.67 per cent municipal tax increase, representing a budget increase of $1,283,361, less 2024 growth of $320,423, for a total increase of $962,938. The second draft as presented (ahead of the meeting) reportedly represents a budget increase of $961,075, less growth of $320,423, for a total increase of $640,652. However, proposed grants-in-aid at $178,605 push this figure to $819,257.
According to staff, this full amount would increase the second draft budget tax increase from a 5.10 per cent to a 6.52 per cent tax increase.
According to the agenda, it will be a full meeting of delegations, with presentations from the Trenton Memorial Hospital Foundation, University Hospitals Kingston Foundation, Gift from the Heart, Presqu’ile Waddling Arts Centre/Brighton Arts and Culture Council, the Beacon, Brighton Marine Rescue, SOHO Proctor Park, and Sunny Day’s Group Program. This is in addition to municipal department presentations, as well as additional asks around doctor retention, increases to accessibility funding, for ice to be available earlier in the year, and more.
As previously reported, Northumberland County finalized its budget earlier with a 6.12 per cent increase. The education levy is anticipated to remain the same, with a zero per cent increase, according to staff.
(Written by: Sarah Hyatt)
