King tables 2014 budget with 2.59% tax hike

December 30, 2013 · 0 Comments

By Angela Gismondi
King is looking at increasing property taxes by 2.59 per cent in 2014.
The Township tabled the draft 2014 budget and business plan on Dec. 16. If approved, the 2.59 per cent tax rate, Township’s portion of the property tax bill would translate to a property tax increase of $61.18 over 2013 levels for an average home assessed at $711,902, that works out to $5.10 a month.
The Region of York approved its 2014 budget with an increase of 1.54 per cent on Dec. 19. Assuming the provincial government remains neutral on the education tax rate, the blended tax increase is estimated to be 1.56 per cent. For an average home, in King, assessed at $711,902, this translates into a $108.84 property tax increase or $9.07 per month.
Councillor Peter Grandilli said that he didn’t see any of his “wish list” items included in the budget.
Councillor Cleve Mortelliti pointed out the Township doesn’t have the money to do all the requested projects.
“I think this is reasonable considering the blended rate,” said Mortelliti.
The 2014 plan includes an operating budget with gross expenditures of $28.3 million, a capital budget of $7.89 million and a 10-year capital plan of $69.9 million.
The draft budget also recommends program changes in the net amount of $273,627. Some of the proposed new initiatives and enhancements include winter snow plowing staff, parks students for special events and beautification, a coordinator for marketing, sponsorships and events, building maintenance, program expansion, a Heritage Grant Program, a part-time finance clerk, asphalt maintenance and patching, winter maintenance standby, regulatory road sign inspection, clean-up day enhancement, a technical support analyst, gravel road and shoulder maintenance, a long-term financial plan, guide rails improvements, sidewalk replacement program, an economic development assistant and a preventive maintenance program for parks.
The budget includes capital projects in the amount of $7.89 million. To complete the projects, the town will need to look for site managers, raw materials and a backhoe for sale as well as other large machinery. Some of the major capital projects (with gross expenditures of $100,000 and greater) being proposed in 2014 are:
• Church Street Reconstruction ($2.80M).
• Dufferin Street Bridge ($2.02M).
• Watermain – Highway 27 at Parkview and King ($370,000).
• Nobleton Pool Retrofit ($320,000).
• Laurier Park – Splash Pad and various park improvements ($310,000).
• Graham Bridge Design work ($280,000).
• Purchase of Tandem Dump Truck and Plow ($200,000).
• Purchase of Single Axle Dump Truck ($200,000).
• Culvert 219 Replacement ($200,000).
• Asset Management Program ($130,000).
• Water Meter Replacement Program ($120,000).
• Purchase of Backhoe ($100,000).
Final adoption and approval of the Township’s budget is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 13.