By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Inflation and upkeep on Chatham-Kent’s infrastructure are the major drivers behind a 4.74-per-cent proposed increase in the municipality’s 2022 budget.
Elected officials got a look at the first draft of the proposed $339,688,400 budget – around $8-million more than 2021 – at a special council meeting held last week.
Now it’s up to council and the budget committee to determine how local tax dollars will be spent, streamlining costs if possible.
Mayor Darrin Canniff said the spike in inflation is the driving force behind the increase, leading to higher costs across the board.
“Not surprising” is how Canniff described inflationary pressures at 4.41 per cent, noting input from the public has made it “loud and clear” Chatham-Kent residents want the municipality’s assets to be improved and maintained.
Canniff said around half of the budget comes from federal and provincial sources.
The inflationary increase is significant. A hike of 2.93 per cent is needed to cover the increase in costs for current services, with a 1.48 per cent spending boost to cover inflation on infrastructure.
Plus, there is the possibility of spending brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, high water and erosion and the emergency situation in Wheatley.
According to CFO Gordon Quinton, inflation is the number one culprit for this year’s budget, but added the municipality also faces the perennial problem of trying to fix and maintain its vast network of roads and bridges – expensive projects that are difficult to fund via the current tax base.
When it comes to COVID-19 spending, Quinton said the province has been very supportive, however, pandemic monies are only guaranteed until March 31 and it’s unknown if Ontario will continue the funding.
The provincial government also earmarked $2-million for the Wheatley disaster, but the final price tag remains unknown.
Quinton said Chatham-Kent is a “resilient community,” adding the draft budget is sustainable and properly funds what needs to be funded.
The 2022 budget chairman, Chatham Coun. Brock McGregor, said it important for the public to be able to provide input on the budget, adding there are a “few weeks of hard work” ahead to ensure the needs of the community are met.
As it stands, the current increase would see homeowners paying on average an additional $142 a year on their tax bill.
Residents who want to offer input will be able to do so Jan. 19 from noon to 1 p.m. and Jan. 20 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
A brief outline of the budget will be presented at the beginning of each meeting, all of which will be broadcast live on the Municipality of Chatham-Kent Facebook page.
Budget deliberations are set for Jan. 26, Jan. 27, and Feb. 1 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Written deputations up to five minutes in length are welcome from the public each evening. Submissions can be made via e-mail to ckps@chatham-kent.ca before 3 p.m. on each of the dates.
Comments can also be made by phone at 519-360-1998 and written submissions can be sent to Budget and Performance Services, Municipality of Chatham-Kent, 315 King St. W, P.O. Box 640, Chatham, ON N7M 5K8.
Let’s get creative! Seriously, we have people living on a fixed income that pay the highest property taxes anywhere in the area, and yet we will increase the cost of water, sewage, and yes property taxes! My father-in-law lives in a 1080 square foot ranch and pays almost $6,000 per year in property taxes; that is almost $500 per month. Now, the council of Chatham Kent thinks we need to up that number. Tell you what, why don’t you increase the development costs to the builders like they have in Windsor and London and stop taking money from those that cannot afford it. Oh, it’s just a little here and there, but that little here and there ends up being an extra $50 to $75 dollars more a month, which most cannot afford. Groceries have gone up, cable, wood, basically everything and now this. Maybe the mayor should stop thinking about an arena and focus on actually fixing the sewage problems that exist in Tilbury and other areas. To the council members…do your job, think about your actions, think about others, and actually get proactive instead of just agreeing with everyone and everything that is said or given to you. If every board, private and public, acted like council members, they would all be broke!