At its January 11 meeting, General Committee ended up approving a revised budget presented by staff with a tax increase of 10.68 per cent. That increase has been offset by assessment growth of approximately $106 million or 2.4 per cent.
The overall tax-supported levy represents about $22 million and an annual increase of $2.6 million over last year.
On the Huntsville portion of the property tax bill, the tax hike represents an increase of $137 for a total of $1,420 per $300,000 of assessment. The overall tax increase once education and the District are factored in, represents an increase of $177 for a total of $2,850 per $300,000 of assessment for 2024, without factoring in water and sewer rates.
You can find the Town’s media release, Here.
Councillors discussed whether to reduce requests from the parks department to create four full-time positions with existing part-time staff. Staff explained that as the Town has grown the department has been feeling the pressure, which has also resulted in high staff turnover rates.
Colleen MacDonald who was previously the Manager of Parks and Cemeteries and is now the Manager of Roads Operations for the Town defended the request, noting that the need is even greater than the four full-time positions being requested. She said staff will probably return with further requests for that department next year. You can find her report, HERE (pdf).
Councillor Dione Schumacher said the Town should lead by example by providing full-time jobs while Councillor Cory Clarke said he’d be in favour of creating two rather than four full-time positions given the current pressures on taxpayers. In the end, the majority of council agreed to leave that budget item in.
Staff made two other recommendations that could bring the tax increase down further. One of those items included transferring more than the current $180,000 being transferred from the Town’s Municipal Accommodation Tax into general expenditures. Prompted by a question from Deputy Mayor Dan Armour, staff indicated that the reserve held about $1 million. Armour noted that those funds could be used to help create incentives in order to alleviate housing shortages in the community. Councillor Bob Stone also said there were some great initiatives on that file coming forward and he did not want to jeopardise that. Council decided not to further deplete that reserve.
Another recommendation from staff involved decreasing funding to capital reserves but councillors expressed concerns with that idea and Clarke said he could not support it. Huntsville Mayor Nancy Alcock also noted that the municipality is obligated to maintain funds in order to fix or replace existing capital through the mandated Capital Management Plan. She also noted that the municipality is obligated to maintain infrastructure created by previous councils such as the Algonquin Theatre, the Canada Summit Centre and Conroy Park — infrastructure she said she and members of the community appreciated, but debt the municipality has to carry in the amount of an estimated $840,000.
Alcock said the services the Town currently offers, including the overall beautification of the Town, are important to residents. “If we all asked and said ok, let’s try and bring this in at 7 per cent, I don’t know what we cut. There are so many things in our budget that are mandatory … I don’t want to cut back on what we do in Community Services. I’ve heard nothing but positive feedback over the Holidays about what we offer there…”
Councillor Scott Morrison who chairs the finance committee said while he appreciates that the public keeps the municipality and councillors accountable, he had some terse words for those who would ‘bash staff’ over the budget.
“Hundreds and hundreds of hours have gone into this and if we thought that we could give you a four per cent tax increase, and still have the town that you want to live in, we’d do it… When our staff are working their ass off all year to make things work for this town and then we as a council go to our senior leadership team and say bring us a budget that runs this town the way we want to run it, and the way that the public wants it to be, and then we shit on them saying that they’re spending money willy-nilly, no, I won’t deal with that,” said Morrison.
“And if you want to go on social media and bash us, bash me. I can take it. I’m the chair of this committee. I’ll take it. You can call me. You can email me. I’ll answer any questions but I will tell you if you sat down with me or our CAO or our Treasurer for half an hour even, you might have a different outlook on why we’re making these decisions. You might not bash people on social media,” he said.
In the end, the majority of councillors voted in favour of the budget with a tax increase of 10.68 per cent for the Huntsville portion, except Councillor Clarke who voted against it.
Council is expected to ratify the budget at its January 29 meeting.
Related
Huntsville Council to continue budget discussions Thursday, January 11
Proposed budgetary changes could result in a 10.98% tax increase
Huntsville’s draft budget is currently sitting at a proposed 15.26% tax hike
District passes its 2024 budget with a 3.94% tax increase
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Ross Maund says
Interesting that Barrie’s Mayor said “hold the line on tax increases in ’24 = 0% increase, North Bay’s municipal increase is 4.61%, Midland is 5.7%, Bracebridge is 6.8%. Perhaps the Toronto municipal tax increase lead by leftist Olivia Chow of 10.5% was a justification of the ridiculous lack of due diligence on the part of Town staff and Councillors but note that Toronto municipal taxes are amongst the lowest per capita in Ontario. The Council talks endlessly about affordability, cost of food, accommodation and the hardship on families in greater Huntsville. The announced increase in taxes is an affront to the town folks who elected the current Mayor and Council & in fairness hopefully voters will not forget this increase 3 years from now. Unbelievable.
Bill Beatty says
Very simply in this economic environment, unacceptable. Affordability of homes is not helped by these huge hikes. Needs not wants . Regardless of how hard staff may work on their priorities! , You have to say NO !
Art Breakenridge says
When they say ” the town residents want” who are they referring to? Does anyone doubt that there is a very wide gap between the average homeowner barely making ends meet and those with cottages and million dollar properties? Do you think maybe those two very diverse groups have different ideas on what the town should be? So which group is council catering to? I have a lot of things I would like personally but can’t afford and so I go without. For council there is no “going without” because they see us as an endless source of revenue, an unlimited Visa or Mastercard. What is “needed” and what people want are two very different things, with two very different budgets. Council is either very consciously or on the flipside unconsciously creating a very wide gap between the residents of this town. Soon there will be no gap because many will no longer be able to afford the never ending tax increases. What does this do for businesses who rely on workers who can actually afford to live here? Let’s face it someone with a cottage on the water or a million dollar home isn’t working on a crew at Burger King or Taco Bell. Those people need to be able to live here as well and a 10 plus percent property tax increase isn’t incentivising. Taking my tax dollars to create some incentive to create low income housing is also backwards in my opinion. Let’s make it easier for some people to live here by making it more difficult for others?
David Wexler says
This news is very disappointing. It’s not easy being an elected representative, I know. That said, each member of Huntsville Town Council wanted and was successful in attaining these leadership positions.
With this success, comes great responsibility. An almost 11% tax increase for Apartment building, condo, townhouse, and home owners seems to me to demonstrate a lack of leadership and a complete disconnect with the taxpayers of Huntsville.
It may be too late for this year but I would respectfully suggest to Town Council that they begin thinking outside the box with respect to spending. Not all services need to be provided by the public sector, which is THE most expensive way to provide services. I wonder how much of what Town Council funds could be better provided and at a significantly lower cost, if truly important for our residents, by the private sector?
Shirley Campbell says
Very disappointing. Why didn’t you balance the books? Where I am, there’s no water service, no gas service, no sewer service, the road is in bad repair and every other week garbage pick up in the winter. I’m okay with most of that but the taxes are way too high for the lack of services. The tax hike is very, very disappointing!
Shirley Campbell
Kathryn Henderson says
This is disgusting. No one working gets a 10% raise per year. What makes town coucil think we homeowners can pay this. I will have to sell my house and try to find a rental somewhere which is very expensive and will go up with this tax hike. Council is trying to make us homeless. People are barely making it. You suck town council. This will put a lot of people out of their homes. There is no need for this kind of raise.
John MacDonald says
The proverbial rock and hard place scenario.
I dislike taxes as much as the next person. I dislike politics as much as the next person. However, I realize the inflation that is impacting all of us is impacting businesses and municipalities alike. If we were not complaining about the tax increase we would be complaining about the roads, or not getting the snow plowed soon enough etc…etc.
All government funding, Federal, Provincial and Municipal comes from you and I and politicians love to be the one to say no tax increase, but as our infrastructure breaks down, the cost to repair or replace it often far exceeds the cost to properly maintain it.
This is a tough pill to swallow for both the public and, I suspect, Council, but over the long term, it is likey the right one.
Perhaps the Town would look at developing a temporary relief plan for those who can demonstrate a hardship case.
John Beckman says
Scott Morrison demonstrates just how out his depth he is as a councilor, and how out of touch he is with his employers, the tax paying public. His disgusting foul mouthed attempt at grandstanding on an 11% tax increase, is as shameful as the CAO’s joke of budget.
We need an independent audit.
Erin Jones says
Judging by the fact that the tax payers were forced to pay almost $ 1 million for a two-hole washroom at River Mill Park, I would say that we DO need a complete, independent audit of the who, what, why, where, when of the money pit (*hint to staff and possibly rubber-stamp council–the pit is not bottomless). It is unconscionable that they are doing this as it will force some number of long-time owners/residents to give up their homes, and desperately search for cheaper ones (in a town that is fresh out of them). Oh, but not to worry, part of the tax increase will go to the District of Muskoka who can then play Lady Bountiful and shower those who have been dispossessed of their homes with money to rent in the (typically sub-standard) public housing that will likely be built to “solve” the problem.
Other municipalities seem to be able to do with a lot less tax-hiking. Apparently, their purse-holding apparatus is a lot less extravagant.
James Ficzere says
Mr. Morrison very poor leadership with your choice of unprofessional language. This massive tax increase is poor fiscal management by the town, period. It is a hard situation for the town to provide all requests and perhaps services have to be reduced and as taxpayers we have to be prepared to except less. Just like private business you can not say yes to everything. No doubt the town employees are working hard.
Murray Christenson says
I’ll echo most of the comments here, in particular, Mr Beckman and Mr Ficzere. Councilor Morrison wants to take the heat on this disgrace of a budget? Then he needs to resign otherwise he will be unloaded by the taxpayers he’s gouging in the next election. We suffered on outsized increase last year at the hands of the gang that couldn’t shoot straight and now they’ve upped the ante again this year even more…almost double what Bracebridge is implementing. This council needs to be reigned in, it’s unacceptable.
Phil Beacock says
Totally unacceptable! My pay did not go up half that! Balance the books!!
Ross Maund says
Gravenhurst has announced a 2024 increase in municipal taxes of 2.5%
Wonder if the Municipal Council in Gravenhurst could be asked to provide financial management of the Town of Huntsville. Expertise vs. none?
Let responsible town voters not forget this tax increase – 3 years will come quickly and when it does, vote responsibly.
Brenda Begg says
Hmm. “…the overall beautification of the Town, are important to residents.” To me, this means NOT destroying thousands of trees (development), transforming green space into a concrete jungle, building condos (unaffordable) that obstruct the lake view… I doubt that the majority of residents are in favour of losing our beautiful trees, view of lakes, and so on. The development isn’t even geared for the average wage earner.
This high tax increase will be a hardship for many Huntsville residents who are already struggling.
Gordon Looker says
I agree with John MacDonald and with Councillor Scott Morrison. I know several on Town Council and they are all dedicated and hard working leaders here, with our best interests in mind. The crazy inflation since COVID has left them in even more of a catch-up situation. It always boggled my mind why Town taxes went up by a tiny pittance every year for the past 33 years that we’ve lived here. As one Councillor stated, his taxes now, are what he paid 23 years ago elsewhere. Mine dropped by 50% when we moved here. I know that housing and food insecurity are huge concerns for many with no solution in sight, so I hope those most affected by the tax hike can find relief somewhere.
John Beckman says
Further to my previous comment. I should have said Bill Beaty is absolutely correct and a voice of reason. “Needs not wants”.
Canada is in a serious financial crisis, as such we need keen budget-hawks willing to carve out savings and to simply say No!
We cannot afford utopian idealists chasing frivilous issues and burdening tax payers with more debt. Scott Morrison has been caught out on the wrong side of this issue, as are town staff, they have delivered a unacceptable 11% overage and deserve severe criticism. They have, to put it simply, failed.
It is also very unfortunate to see that Nancy Alcock has brought her far Left big city deficit spending ideals from her days in Toronto to her current position as Mayor in Huntsville.
Thankfully social media exists to expose these two and the rest of council to reality. Alcock and Morrison have clearly chosen to make this their last term in office.
Bring on an independent audit.
Allen Markle says
I listened to councilor Morrison on the Bay radio last week and then noted some of his comments. Stating that some people’s comments, possibly some of mine(?), as being directed only toward ‘the staff’. Not true. He claims to be in charge. He should shoulder some of the responsibility and not use deflection to infer only the staff is responsible. “The buck stops…” as the adage goes. He also claims this 10.6 increase is necessary, and we know it could have been more! Guess that won’t change. But the way our council and ‘staff’ blow through cash, can it be enough? Will it ever be enough?
I hope the councilor(s) recognise that there are a lot of people who are dealing with income increases of…..nothing. Youth, pensioners, young families, mortgage holders, those who feel eating is important; there’s a lot who are suffering and facing higher costs. Council directing from the chambers and spokespeople, some who are double dippers at the tax trough, leaves a bit of an odor in the air.
But then the best parts from Councilor Morrison, saying without the increase, people might not like the town. I’m getting there. He then brought out the big gun, mentioned before by another double dipper ‘spokesman’, Councilor Stone; do the people want ‘them’ to have to close The Summit Center?? There may be a good portion of the populace somewhat disappointed if they pull that one, eh?
Then what? The library? Tombstone territory (Kent Park)? Cemeteries? There are likely other ‘nonessential’ facilities that council could stop funding to ease the burden. Or they could actually use our taxes wisely.
The big finish though was the “Bash me. I can take it.” A grandiose, but oh so empty gesture. It’s too bad that criticism has to be construed as ‘bashing’, and that said criticism is poorly taken.
Yessir!! I question whether I/WE are getting our moneys worth. We will have to wait and see. I’m hopeful. But not that hopeful. Nervously hopeful???
But, hey!! Maybe that’s just me. ——————–Now where did I hear that?