Renfrew taxpayers will likely need to take a deep breath before looking at the 2024 draft budget’s tax levy.
Acting Treasurer Charlene Jackson presented the $69 million document to Town Council on Tuesday evening, laying out a spending plan focusing heavily on road construction and design projects that will have a 9.42 percent raise in this year’s tax bill.
She explained how that will look for the average taxpayer.
Chief Administrative Officer Rob Tremblay says the budget focuses heavily on roads as per council’s request and the significant need to rehabilitate a number of local streets.
The financial impact of the Ma-te-Way Expansion project’s upcoming debt repayment was discussed, but town staff have found savings in the budget, like cutting back on reserve funding, that will be used to offset that cost in 2024.
Councilor Clint McWhirter was ready to lay down a challenge for himself and his fellow councilors to trim the budget and its impact on local rate payers at the committee level, similar to the 2 percent cut that Town Staff was able to make to last year’s draft budget ahead of approval.
Tremblay noted that other nearby municipalities are facing double-digit tax levy increases this year and that Renfrew’s budget will return to council near the end of February for an upcoming public meeting and final approval.
(written by Kasey Egan)
