2022 Proposed Capital and Operating Budget

The budget is the Township's plan for the coming period, expressed in dollars. The budget, prepared by staff is the culmination of ongoing engagement on public priorities throughout the year. It is prepared by taking into consideration both this community input and direction from Township Council.

The Township relies on property tax dollars to provide the services, facilities, programs and infrastructure that contribute to your quality of life.

The Capital and Operating Budget provides for the investments to be made in the community and is a reflection of Council’s strategic vision for the Township as outlined in the Focused Direction, Centre Wellington Council Strategic Plan 2019-2022.

The 2022 Draft Budget is now available to review.

Budget meetings begin next week (November 30 & December 2). Budget meetings will be held electronically, via Zoom, no persons will be permitted in the Council Chamber. Anyone wishing to register as a delegation, to speak and receive a Zoom meeting invitation, is asked to contact the Municipal Clerk at kokane@centrewellington.ca or 519.846.9691 x 243. Delegations are asked to register for the November 30th meeting no later than noon on November 26th, 2021.

Learn more about the 2022 Budget by watching Mayor Linton's interactive presentation here.

Pre Budget Direction and Reports

Budget Impacts Report & Discussion, October 4, 2021
On October 4, Council met to discuss the Budget Impacts Report at a designated budget committee of the whole meeting. At the meeting the following decisions were made:

• Council approved the inclusion of the 10-Year Capital Forecast.
• Council received the report on the Township’s staffing strategy and these positions will now be brought forward within the 2022 operating budget as part of budget deliberations

Reports:
Staffing Strategy
2022 Preliminary Capital Forecast
Inflation Update

Preliminary Capital Budget Review, September 7, 2021
The following recommendations were made at the September 7 Committee of the Whole meeting:

1. Council directed staff to work with the County of Wellington on the feasibility of various traffic calming measures in the Township including community safety zones and photo radar.

2. Council directed staff to include the 2022 Preliminary Draft Capital Budget and the Preliminary Draft Bridge and Major Culverts 10 Year Plan, as outlined in the report.

3. Council adopted the Reserve and Reserve Fund Policy

Council authorized the Mayor and Clerk to sign a by-law with respect to this Policy.

AND THAT the recommended transfers between reserves as at December 31,

2020, be approved and posted as of January 1, 2021. And that any transfers between reserves required as a result of 2021 transactions relating to the updated policy be made by staff.

4. Council directed staff to use the existing OLG Funding Allocation Policy for

Budget purposes, with the policy to be reviewed as part of the 2023 Budget

process. It was directed that staff also initiate a 2022 grant application process for the arts, culture & heritage portion of OLG proceeds, with applications received to be reviewed and allocated by Council subsequent to 2022 Budget approval. The OLG Allocation Policy can be reviewed here.

5. Council approved the hiring of a Manager of Purchasing & Risk.

Budget Directions Report & Discussion, Monday, June 21

Council gave the following direction to staff:

• Maintain a 2022 tax rate increase equal to or less than 2.4%
• Assume 2022 assessment growth equal to 2.0%, to be used to fund budget increases considered to be growth in nature, with assessment growth figures to be updated in November, when received.
• Increase fees and charges for 2022 by 2.4%, other than where pressure on rates indicates an alternate rate change
• Include approximately $1,700,000 in growth related capital projects to be funded by development charges within each year of the Draft Ten Year Capital Forecast
• Allocate the following funding to the Draft Capital Budget:
  • $4,547,988 in combined General Capital Reserve, Federal Gas Tax, and OLG Funds
  • An increase in funding of $79,000 to the tax supported Equipment and Vehicle Replacement Reserves
  • Allocations to the WSIB Reserve, Insurance Claims Reserve, Contingency Reserve, and Legal Matters Reserve as per the Township's funding targets in the Reserve Policy

2022 Budget Directions Report and presentation to council from Monday, June 21.

2022 Budget Schedule:

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Get involved

Members of the public are encouraged to get involved in the budget process by:

• Sharing your input below using the ideas tool
• Reviewing the 2022 budget when it is released on November 22, 2021
• Watch our meetings live or following the meeting to catch up.
• Register as a delegate for the November 30 meeting by emailing kokane@centrewellington.ca