On December 9, East Hawkesbury Council approved their amended 2025 budget. Residents can expect a property tax increase of seven per cent, one per cent less than originally considered for the municipality on November 12.
The average value of a residential house in East Hawkesbury is $210,000. For a property at that value, the seven per cent increase means an additional $90 in property taxes annually.
Two significant budget increases came from the municipality’s insurance policy renewal and OPP costs. These costs added $36,464 from a 2023 OPP cost adjustment and another $66,974 for the general increase of 2025 OPP service fees. Insurance expenses are also rising a whopping 18 per cent for the municipality.
Citing the recent announcement from the Government of Ontario to help municipalities offset rising costs of Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) services and an additional $29,000 expected in new property tax revenue, council was able to shave another percentage point off for taxpayers.
Deputy Mayor Jacques Tranchemontagne posed to council that the increase should stay at eight per cent, stating “I think we’re not moving forward here. I think we’re going to go backwards; what will the next cut be?”
East Hawkesbury residents were originally looking at a 12 per cent property tax increase for 2025 due to strenuous rising costs across the board; this amount dropped to eight per cent before ultimately being confirmed at the final seven per cent.
