Lake of Bays councillors were presented with a proposed 5.56 per cent tax increase at their November 11 meeting. That increase would mean a lower-tier property tax of $712.29 for $300,000 worth of property assessment and an increase of $37.52 per year.
The recommendation includes pulling $932,036 from reserves and debt financing of $3.3 million as a result of the purchase of the Logging Chain property.
Some of the new capital initiatives include $2.2 million for the revitalization and expansion of the Dwight Community Centre and library, and revamping the Hwy 117 entrance to Baysville, a $1.5 million joint project with the District of Muskoka (financed between 2025 and 2026 fiscal years). Office renovations at the Township building in Dwight are also planned at a cost of $120,000 (to be pulled from reserves) and upgrades to the Council Chamber sound system, live streaming network, and voting software at $100,000.
On the operations side, the budget calls for five new positions. Two for fire services positions as the Township continues to wind down its agreement for the provision of fire services with the Town of Huntsville and moves to an independent fire department for Lake of Bays. The positions include a deputy fire chief and an admin coordinator for $127,664. Councillors suggested the positions could be pushed to the end of the year in order to find savings and bring the tax levy down for 2026.
The budget also calls for the addition of a septic system inspector to lead a septic re-inspection program at a cost of $126,529 (to be funded from reserves). A Dwight Library branch manager is also being requested starting partway through the year at $50,000, and the inclusion of a full-time, permanent Manager of Planning position for the Planning Services Department ($79,000), as well as consulting services for the creation of an Active Transportation Strategy and Tourism Strategy at $100,000.
Lake of Bays Councillor George Anderson said he’d like to see the tax increase go down by a per cent. “In this day and age, people are really under the gun to either have a roof over their head or put food on the table, and I think that anything we can do in terms of assisting your average person would be a good thing.”
Councillors tried to trim the budget to bring down the tax increase. According to staff, a one per cent increase on the tax levy equals about $78,000. Councillor Bob Lacroix suggested taking $20,000 from the fire services budget for fire rating signs, which could be offset with grant money. Councillors also suggested putting off the hiring of positions in the fire department, as the municipality winds down its agreement for fire service with the Town of Huntsville.
“I want to applaud you all for a wonderful job,” Lake of Bays Mayor Teri Glover told staff. He reminded residents that the Township budget makes up just a quarter of the overall property tax bill.
Staff was asked to find further savings by adjusting the timing of new hires and return next month on December 9 with an adjusted tax rate.
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