Huron-Kinloss Council

To Comment on this article Click Here

It's unanimous. Taxes in Huron-Kinloss Township are going up five-per-cent this year.

In a recorded vote, all members of council supported the 2010 budget at the meeting Monday night (April 19).

Treasurer Jodi MacArthur said the township levy is $4,256,316, an increase of 12.25 per cent over the previous year's levy. To raise these funds, the tax rate has increased by 4.95 per cent.

The total residential tax rate, which includes municipal, Bruce County levy, and education tax, actually saw a 1.29-per-cent decrease from the 2009 rate, said MacArthur.

However, the average value of a residential single family home in the township has increased to $218,362 this year, up from $205,073 last year. Therefore, the average single family homeowner will pay $1,029.76 for the municipal portion of the tax bill, up from $921.47 last year  - a difference of $108.29.

Combined with the county and education tax rates, the average property owner can expect an increase of 5.1 per cent or about $120 overall, MacArthur said.

Council has also increased the annual water service rate to $250 from $220 for this year, and to $280 for 2011, she said.

Some of the capital projects included in the 2010 budget are:

• New Lucknow Fire Hall (joint project with Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh), $1.125 million (received two-thirds funding)
• Reconstruction of Huron Road in Point Clark, $2.93 million (received two-thirds funding)

• Reconstruction of one block of Havelock Street in Lucknow, $280,000
• Surface treatment of township roads, $605,550 - includes Clyde Street in Lucknow, Shadywood Crescent in Point Clark, Concession 12 (Huron-Kinloss boundary west to Sideroad 10), South Kinloss Avenue (Bruce County Road 1 east to gravel section), and Whitechurch Street (Grey Ox north to boundary)
• Major deck repairs to Concession 2 bridge, Huron Township, $160,000 (funded by federal gas tax)
• Addition to Lucknow Sports Complex (joint with Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh), $740,000 (received two-thirds funding)
• Engineering and Environmental Assessment for new water storage in Lucknow, $50,000
• Engineering for new well and water storage in Ripley, $72,000.

^{for world news, books, sports, movies ...}

Tuesday, April 20, 2010