From the District Municipality of Muskoka.
At its December 18 meeting, District Council approved a $155.9 million tax-supported budget with an operating levy of $94.2 million and $61.7 million in proposed capital expenditures.
That means residents will see a 3.94 per cent increase in the District portion of their municipal property taxes to fund municipal services and a 0.4 per cent increase to support hospital redevelopment. This represents an increase of approximately $40.38 per $300,000 of property assessment across the region or $970.48.
Similar to the pressures facing Muskoka’s residents, families and businesses, the District continues to experience pressures tied to inflation and the high costs of construction, supplies and insurance. The budgeting process focused on achieving the best balance possible – investing in key services and infrastructure to keep pace and prepare for the future while exploring every opportunity to reduce costs and find efficiencies in service delivery.
“We understand the economic pressures facing Muskoka residents and businesses, and we have worked hard to limit the impact to taxpayers wherever possible. At the same time, we have a responsibility to maintain services for future community needs. Council and staff faced very challenging decisions together to achieve this budget of balanced priorities,” according to Jeff Lehman, District Chair.
2024 Budget Highlights
This budget maintains all service levels and acts on the priorities identified by residents in Council’s new Strategic Plan. Key investments include:
- $4.2M to act on affordable housing and homelessness
- $23M to improve Muskoka’s road network, including $11M for surfacing projects, $1.2M for low-volume road improvements, in addition to Gravenhurst (Bay St.), Bracebridge (Taylor Rd. Bridge), and Highway #118 projects.
- $30M to expand access to 160 beds by redeveloping Fairvern Long-Term Care Home, part of a total investment to $121M
- $1.8M to support future redevelopment of hospital sites in Muskoka and beyond.
- $35.8M to fund future infrastructure needs by increasing our contributions to reserve funds
You can find the budget and District budgets from other years, HERE.
Where do District tax dollars go? See the chart below:
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Raymond Mitschke: I’m certain that lots of taxpayers are more than a little p$$$ed with the increased tax levies this year, especially after the last few years we have endured. But I know that if you look it up, councilor stipends are not large.
There are double-dippers of course, with our being lumbered with District government. I have always felt that District was a sucker punch from the start and is one of the two things I will never thank PC governments for. And it looks that, after Mr. Ford bailing on the break up of Peel, we’ll be lumbered with that double touch taxation for a while longer.
Council does the job most of us never want. We can certainly question some of the results of the job. However, with the Ontario Land Tribunal having the last word in all land disputes, local councils will hardly ever win. Langmaids Island being an example. A good fight but a loss from the starting gun.
I’m more concerned with the waste of time and money and the concentration of some councilors on pet and frivolous projects. New ‘brand’. ‘Unity Square’. ‘Portable ice’. Everybody can come up with items where money was and will be simply wasted. Interesting that the amount of money allocated to Huntsville in the PC plan to rehabilitate local infrastructure won’t even solve our ‘two-holer’ fiasco. Another ‘hole’ topic. I question more the focus of our council and the results they are getting, rather than the job they do.
Now if you were to question the amount paid to some town staff and District, we may agree. I don’t mean the job is overvalued, I just wonder that if, in some instances, we’re getting our money’s worth. And there is such a whack of them!!!!
Just one person’s opinion.
I’m disappointed with this tax increase when residents of muskoka are having a hard time with inflation.. I think town council should take a pay cut to help towards the budget.
WOW! With the current economic conditions this is unbelievable for ‘full time’ residents in Muskoka! I don’t see any attempt to cut the $$ gravy train, staff admin $$ just grows and gets bigger, reality is never on the table for discussion to address impact & consequence! This admin does not get it that full time residents do not have the ALL $$$ that seasonal folks have! Obviously.. .BIG change needs to happen at the District to face Muskoka reality and live in the real world of full time residents living in Muskoka! You folks needs to focus on ‘needs and wants’ and act accordingly!