Renfrew’s 2024 budget has a new number for taxpayers to keep in mind, according to Acting Treasurer Charlene Jackson.
Renfrew’s town council was unable to lower the taxpayer burden for the 2024 Town Budget on Tuesday night, despite the hope that there would be enough to cut in the document that would reduce the tax levy from the initially reported 9.62% increase, an additional $234.79 in taxes for the average Renfrew household.
However, they did make a number of changes to the budget that were deemed necessary at the committee level over the past month, such as the reintroduction of $400,000 to be transferred into the town’s road reserves.
Jackson explained that the purpose of the cash influx is to cover part of a heavy cut to reserve funding made at the start of budget talks and went through the impact that not having that money set aside would create for 2025’s tax levy.
Among the other major additions was an $185,000 project to fix the roof of the municipal garage to be handled by unallocated reserves, which Jackson says recently saw water leak through from the lights.
Council okayed the project and another roof repair at 1 Innovation Drive, but Councillors Andrew Dick and Kyle Cybulski were both adamant that town staff nail the execution when it comes to the bill.
There were also a number of cost savings found that helped alleviate the additional costs, including around $184,000 that the Development, Environmental, and Engineering Committee were able to cut from garbage collection services, additional revenue from cost recoveries and other municipalities, and the elimination of the Project Specialist position.
Renfrew’s 2024 budget and the new 11.22% tax levy will return to council next week, Tuesday, February 27th, for final discussion and approval.
(written by Kasey Egan)
