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County approves $638 million budget for 2022

December 2, 2021   ·   0 Comments

County of Simcoe Council has approved a $638 million budget that focuses on the resources necessary to maintain existing services, support the continued recovery from the pandemic and addresses significant growth in member communities.

The budget also includes strategic allocations for services and assets like infrastructure, long-term care, paramedic services, affordable housing, the Lake Simcoe Regional Airport, waste collection, transit, economic development, tourism, and enhancements to the road network.

Residents will see a two per cent increase on the County portion of their municipal property taxes in 2022.

This represents an increase of approximately $5.47 per $100,000 property assessment across the region.

Overall budget expenditures increased from 2021 to 2022 due to COVID-19 pressures, areas of growth and investment and initiatives.

“County Council knows that since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, residents and local businesses have faced challenges,” said Warden George Cornell. “In 2021, the first budget of the pandemic, County Council committed to not raising taxes and approved a zero per cent increase on the County’s portion of municipal taxes in order to help residents, families and businesses. This 2022 budget is a responsible budget, addressing rising costs to complete vital infrastructure and capital projects and enabling us to invest in our essential services and programs as growth continues.

“At the County, we employ long-term care nurses, PSWs, paramedics and staff working in employment assistance and affordable housing sectors. These essential services will continue to see increased demand in 2022 and beyond. Efficiencies in our operations, combined with the County’s prudent fiscal management, ensure that we can keep supporting our residents and communities while keeping our 2022 tax rate below inflation.”

The County has maintained a strong financial position having received an AA long-term issuer credit rating from S&P Global Ratings for the eight years in a row. 

The County released the following numbers for this budget:

LTC – Homes and senior services $104 million

Paramedic services $64 million

Children Services $46 million

Social housing $102 millions

Ontario Works $88 million

Transportation and engineering $57 million

Solid waste management $77 million

By Brian Lockhart
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter


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