Budget began with significant challenges including increased emergency services costs, declining investment income, and higher insurance premiums.  On the bright side Provincial funding increased and some new growth including Cobble Beach added to the assessment roll.

 

The Township employs a budget by service approach.  Each service is looked at to find increases or decreases to the operating budget based on a plan that looks at responsibilities, budget pressures, long term issues, and service measures.  Department Heads review these plans with Council at budget in order to set the operating cost for each service.

 

On the capital side our Standing Committees developed their needs list early in 2010 and these recommendations were brought forward to all of Council for debate and discussion.  A specific spending plan was set with identifyable funding sources.  Our tax supported contributions to capital and reserves increased in 2010 for the third straight year.

 

The overall tax increase to the residential ratepayer is 1.7%.  A partial adjustment of tax rates has occurred to help mitigate the impact of the Provincial re-assessment phase in.  For typical residential properties with assessment increases between 3% and 9% the lowest increase would be 1.1% while highest would be 7.0%.

 

Based on the figures available, Georgian Bluffs has the third lowest residential tax rate of the 17 municipalities in Grey Bruce, and the second lowest rate in Grey County.  Our budget summary document is linked below.