WELLINGTON – Despite what Warden Andy Lennox called "challenging circumstances," county council has settled on a 4.6 per cent tax increase in 2024.
Adopted during a county council meeting this morning, this represents one of three parts on a property tax bill, with the other two portions being from the lower-tier municipality and education.
A 4.7 per cent levy increase is currently anticipated for 2025, followed by a 3.8 per cent increase in 2026.
“The 2024 budget attempts to strike a careful balance between limiting the cost impact to County residents, while continuing to provide the necessary resources to deliver core services and maintain and improve the County’s critical infrastructure,” said County Coun. Chris White, in a press release.
Highlights of the budget include enhanced direct care hours at Wellington Terrace Long Term Care Home, the addition of nine paramedics to ambulance services, 24 new emergency shelter beds at 23 Gordon Street in Guelph and increased service levels for Ride Well.
Investments in roads, bridges and culvert improvements will total $37.4 million in 2024.
The county approved a 3.8 per cent increase in 2023 and a two per cent increase in 2022.
Isabel Buckmaster is the Local Journalism Initiative reporter for GuelphToday. LJI is a federally-funded program.
