The Town of Hawkesbury will collect $245,536, or 2.2 per cent more in property taxes in 2022.
Town council approved the 2022 budget when it met on December 13. In 2021, Hawkesbury collected $11,434,132 in taxes, and it is projected to collect $11,387,970 in 2022.
Total operating revenue and expenses for 2022 is anticipated to be $22,677,576 – an increase of 1.74 per cent, or $388,615 from 2021. The residential levy increase for 2022 is 2.56 per cent, which means the town will collect $189,000 more from residential property owners in 2022, resulting in a projected total residential levy of $7,587,748. The total residential levy for 2021 was $7,397,948. The 2022 tax rates have not yet been approved by council.
Grants and transfer payments are projected to provide $2,847,930 in municipal revenue in 2022, which is a 1.87 per cent, or $52,290, increase from $2,795,640 in 2021.
Revenue from water system fees in Hawkesbury will increase by one per cent in 2022. Revenue from wastewater system fees will increase by 1.31 per cent. A 1.02 per cent increase in revenue from garbage and recycling fees is planned for 2022. Council has not yet approved changes to water, sewer, or garbage rates.
Salaries, wages, and benefits for municipal staff in Hawkesbury are projected to increase expenses by 1.28 per cent or $99,700 in 2022.
In 2022, the road maintenance budget for Hawkesbury is to decrease by $45,500, or 9.09 per cent – from $500,300 in 2021 to $454,800. However, the budget for winter maintenance on municipal roads is to increase 3.74 per cent, or $25,000, to $692,800. The winter maintenance budget for sidewalks and municipal parking lots is decreasing by 2.90 per cent or $3,000 to $100,460.
Capital expenses for the Town of Hawkesbury in 2022 are projected at $13,705,500.
At $8 million, the most expensive item on the list of capital expenses is clarifier and filter upgrades at the water filtration plant. However, the price tag for that project is already below the budgeted amount. On December 13, council approved a tender from Black and MacDonald Limited and awarded the company with the contract for the clarifier and filter upgrades at a cost of $6,752,900. The Black and MacDonald tender was the lowest of three bids the town received.
The second-most expensive item in the capital budget is a new refrigeration system for the ice rink at the Robert Hartley Sports Complex. The projected cost for the new system is $2.5 million. The town is also planning to replace the elevator at the complex at a cost of $150,000 and it is anticipated it will cost $220,000 for a new electric ice-cleaning machine and charging station.
A $300,000 roof repair project for the town hall is planned. Paving, at a cost of $250,000 is scheduled for Stevens Street, and traffic signal improvements are planned for the intersection of McGill, Nelson, and Bon Pasteur streets which are projected to cost $280,000. Design costs of $200,000 are on the list for the rehabilitation of West Street.
There was no discussion among councillors before the budget by-law was approved. Mayor Paula Assaly congratulated Treasurer Philippe Timbers and his staff for their work and having the budget prepared in record time.
