A three-year budget got the nod from County Council, emphasizing strategic growth and affordable housing
Warden Brian Ostrander stressed the budget’s importance in aligning short-term decisions with long-term strategies for financial resilience.
The 2024 budget will mean a 4.57% base levy increase that, with dedicated infrastructure and housing levies of 1 percent each, will come to a total of 6.57 percent in 2024.
Ostrader said this will address inflationary pressures while supporting crucial programs and contributing to reserves.
“This will enable us to align short-term decisions with long-term strategies.” said Ostrander. “In so doing, we are ensuring stronger financial management that will better enable the County to anticipate needs, allocate resources efficiently, and prevent unexpected shortfalls.”
Breakdown of estimated tax impact, after growth, for 2024 through 2026:
· Base levy increases of:
4.57 per cent in 2024
6.64 per cent in 2025
6.86 per cent in 2026
· Increase of 1.0 per cent for the Dedicated Infrastructure Levy, introduced in 2016 to address the widening gap in funding for repair and replacement of critical infrastructure.
· Increase of 1.0 per cent for a new Dedicated Housing Levy, to prioritize investments in needed housing and homelessness infrastructure.
Total levy increases during this period (base levy plus dedicated levies) will be:
6.57 per cent for 2024
8.64 per cent for 2025
8.86 per cent for 2026
Investments span homelessness support, emergency services, child care expansion, regional transit, internet connectivity, and environmental initiatives.
Council’s approach aims to meet evolving community needs and enhance Northumberland’s overall well-being.
“This budget process and our final direction was shaped by feedback from the community, received through extensive public engagement efforts throughout this past year,” states Warden Ostrander. “In speaking with residents, stakeholders, and community partners, we heard how investments in areas such as affordable housing and homelessness resources, regional transit, child care, health services, and environmental sustainability were of paramount importance.
“We also heard that, with inflationary pressures and cost-of-living increases, these are difficult times for our residents and businesses. Council respects the trust placed in us by our community to manage finances prudently, particularly given the current environment. We believe we have arrived at a long-term budget that addresses community needs while ensuring each dollar is invested responsibly and wisely.”
Department business plans and budgets, as well as a consolidated County budget, are available at Northumberland.ca/Budget.
Written by Joseph Goden
