TOWNSHIP OF GUELPH/ERAMOSA – A report to Guelph/Eramosa council shows the town budget has been adjusted for a 0 per cent increase to the township tax levy.
The previous draft budget presented to Guelph/Eramosa council projected an increase of around 0.5 per cent which was the equivalent of approximately $7 on a home assessed at $500,000.
The report says that in light of financial hardships that COVID-19 has placed on residents and businesses in the township that the additional tax levy be reduced.
To achieve this, the scheduled cost of living adjustment for non-union staff and councillors was removed and transfers to some reserves were lowered which reduced additional taxation requirement by nearly $40,000.
In the report by Linda Cheyne, director of finance, it says the level of service provided by the township will not change as a result.
The township has also confirmed their Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) from the province will be nearly $450,000.
The OCIF is provincial funding that is geared towards smaller and rural municipalities to renew core infrastructure such as roads, bridges, water and wastewater.
The proposed 2021 budget for the township includes $2.2 million in road and bridge upgrades.
