Kawartha Lakes council to start deliberating budgets this month

DAN CEARNS, The Standard

KAWARTHA LAKES: After a month of budget presentations, overviews and orientation sessions, Kawartha Lakes councillors will begin to deliberate the 2023 municipal budgets this month.

At a budget meeting, on Thursday, February 2nd, CAO Ron Taylor provided the timeline for budget deliberation meetings.

A special council meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 14th, for councillors to discuss, possibly make changes to, and approve the capital budget. Two weeks later, on Tuesday, February 28th, councillors will have the chance to do the same with the operating budget, special projects budget and the water and wastewater budget. All of these budgets will combine to form the overall municipal budget.

Mr. Taylor stated, inflationary pressures and ongoing asset management are two of the pressures facing this budget.

“I really do think you have a good budget in front of you,” Mr. Taylor said.

Mayor Doug Elmslie noted, “this budget supports over 200 city services,” and said he’s heard other municipalities are looking at tax increases between five and 14 percent.

The proposed Kawartha Lakes budget increase is three percent, with an additional capital levy of 1.5 percent.

For more information on the proposed budgets, visit www.kawarthalakes.ca.