Northumberland County Council Approves $ 181 Million Budget and Re-Elects Bob Crate as Director – Peterborough | The Canadian News

The Northumberland County Council voted in favor of the 2022 budget and also re-elected Bob Crate as director on Wednesday.

The approvals came during Wednesday’s meeting. The $ 181.3 million budget includes a 3.11% post-growth tax increase, comprising:

• Base rate of 1.85 percent
• Investment in dedicated infrastructure of 0.85%
• Hospital funding of 0.4%

The county says it amounts to $ 63.3 million in fundraising for the total budget.

Northumberland County represents seven municipalities: the City of Cobourg, the Townships of Port Hope, Trent Hills and Brighton, and the Townships of Hamilton, Alnwick / Haldimand and Cramahe.

It is estimated that for a median detached single-family home in the county, it will mean $ 38 in annual property taxes, subject to changes based on tax policy and information from the Municipal Property Appraisal Corporation, to be finalized this spring.

“By providing guidance to staff in launching the budget process in June, the council sought to balance affordability for taxpayers with necessary investments in critical community services and infrastructure,” stated Crate (Mayor of Trent Hills), who was sworn in Wednesday to serve a second term as county director after receiving unanimous endorsement from the council

“The City Council is aware that the ongoing global pandemic has increased financial constraints for many of our residents. We have also heard from the public about the importance of sustainable investments in areas such as road and bridge rehabilitation, affordable housing, economic development, and community health and wellness.

“After intensive deliberation over two days of special meetings, the council has come up with a budget that keeps the tax increase as low as possible while ensuring the delivery of essential programs and services that our community relies on.”

Projects and services that the 2022 budget will support include:

• Funding for Northumberland Hills Hospital Foundation and Campbellford Memorial Hospital Foundation for investments in essential capital equipment.
• Advances on capital projects such as the Golden Plow Lodge and the Northumberland County Archives and Museum redevelopment, the Elgin Park and Ontario Street community housing projects, and the Campbellford Bridge project.
• Surface treatment of more than 120 kilometers of municipal and county roads, and construction works for crossings, sewers and retaining walls.
• Affordable Housing Strategy Initiatives, including the Capital Grant Program to Increase the Supply of Affordable Rental Housing and Strategic Land Acquisition Funds for Future Community Housing Development.
• Economic development initiatives, including manufacturing pull activities; micro-grants, coaching and training to grow small businesses; and development of tourist experiences.

Also Wednesday, Cramahe Township Mayor Mandy Martin was sworn in for a second term as deputy county director.

The director and deputy director roles are one-year terms, filled by one of seven county council members.