ERIN - The latest version of the proposed 2022 Erin budget contains very little changes.
There are currently no changes to the proposed property tax increase of 2.9 per cent and the $223,000 increase in total town tax levy that was presented at the Nov. 23 council meeting, council heard at a a budget meeting on Tuesday.
To balance the 2022 budget and fund the capital project requests that require funding from taxation, a draw from the tax stabilization reserve of $196,500 has been proposed.
Capital projects identified and recommended for 2022 include: The new Hillsburgh community centre with a cost of $648,000; rehabilitation of bridge 5, which is located at 2nd Line South, costs around $915,000; a new wastewater treatment plant project which will cost around $9.4 million; and a new water collection system which costs around $10.6 million.
The total capital budget for 2022 is $32.6 million. Treasurer Oliver Gob has requested council to include the total capital budget in the final draft, which council was unanimously in favour of.
The total operating budget for 2022 is still $6.9 million with the majority of it going to the roads department, at $2.8 million.
Councillors had no problems with the changes in the draft budget, however, councillors Rob Smith and John Brennan made observations that the budget survey results did not reflect the different needs Erin residents need.
“When looking at the parks budget survey, you have survey participants from Ballinafad on there but there are not a lot of parks in Ballinafad. I think we need to reflect the proper departments or needs the people in different areas of Erin actually need,” explained Brennan.
The final draft is scheduled to be presented on Dec. 16.
