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Town of New Tecumseth adopts 2024 business plan and budget

December 21, 2023   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

The Town of New Tecumseth adopted its 2024 business plan and budget at the Dec. 11 council meeting.

The approved 2024 budget reflects a net operating and capital levy of $43.9 million, resulting in a 7.89 per cent general levy increase. The Town’s capital levy dedicated to asset replacement increases the levy by an additional 1.5 per cent.

The impact on the average New Tecumseth residential property, including County and Education components, would be a total tax payment of $4,778. This is an annual blended increase of 6.1 per cent, representing an increase of approximately $275 per year.

Key operating highlights include:

• Reinstatement of the tree planting program.
• Elective Conservation Authorities’ education programs
• Extended library hours
• Increased day camp places
• Enhanced crossing guard program.
• Traffic calming initiatives
• Free swims for residents
• Community Climate Action plan
• Enhanced public communication and engagement
• Addition of necessary resources in Public Works

The Town budget includes $40.7 million in capital consisting of 68 projects, funded from a variety of sources, such as reserves of $11.8 million, development charges of $21.1 million, debentures of $4.3 million, grants of $3.4 million, and tax of $789 thousand.

Significant 2024 capital works include:

• Additional fire station in Alliston – increase in investment by $4.3 million
• Fire apparatus and equipment replacement costing $1.8 million
• Investment in roads and bridge reconstruction costing $2.8 million
• 2024 Road Improvement Program costing $3.5 million
• Fleet replacements costing $2.8 million
• Facilities upgrades costing $1.2 million
• Alliston well development costing $11.9 million
• McKelvey well pump upgrades costing $2.7 million
• Elevated water storage and EA and design costing $2.8 million
• New Tecumseth pipeline booster stations – EA and design costing $1.9 million
• Scada server software and hardware upgrades costing $1.7 million
• Wastewater treatment plants – processing equipment upgrades costing $1 million

The water and wastewater budget approval results in a 15 per cent increase to water and 8.5 per cent to wastewater rates effective Apr. 1, 2024.

The impact of the proposed rate change for an average residential home using 200 cubic meters of water per year is approximately $120.

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