A draft 2022 municipal budget has been presented to Dryden Council and it includes a 4.15% tax increase.
Treasurer Steven Lansdell-Roll says a decision to switch to provincial police service is a factor behind the recommended hike.
The police transition breakdown is as follows: (estimates)
-$1.1 million in increased Operating costs
-$1.7 million in estimated Disbandment costs
-$711,000 in one-time OPP start-up costs
-$400,000 in one-time OPP facility upgrades
Lansdell-Roll notes the final OPP numbers will become more clear in January or early February and may result in a lower tax rate.
Rising labour and insurance costs also factor into the hike.
The main highlight is there are no recommended service level reductions and $611,000 has been allocated to reserve funds.
The reserve breakdown includes:
-$198,000 allocated to the Waterfront Development Reserve Fund
-$9,000 allocated to the Dryden Fire Services Apparatus/Equipment Reserve Fund
-$60,000 allocated to the General Capital Reserve Fund
-$20,000 allocated to the Land Sale Reserve Fund
-$139,000 allocated to the Sanitary/Wastewater Reserve Fund
-$185,000 allocated to the Waterworks Reserve Fund.
Debt servicing costs in 2022 comes in at $1.06 million.
Lansdell-Roll says the fiscal document also calls for roughly $6.9 million in capital spending but notes this is dependent on outside funding and grants.
He has asked Council to hold off on approving the budget until February as the exact cost of policing will be clear at that time.
