Wellington North tax levy up 3.3%

KENILWORTH - Taxes are going up in Wellington North, but the increase will be partially offset by organic growth in the township.

On Jan. 13, finance director Adam McNabb said the proposed tax levy for Wellington North’s operating budget only was down by $497,792 (9%) from 2019.

Council approved a 2020 budget of $18,403,978, with $7,672,957 of that to be raised by taxation, McNabb said.

That is 3.33% higher than  last year’s levy of $7,425,439.

However, because of overall assessment growth within the township, McNabb said taxes will increase by 1.8% for local residents.

The average home assessed at $257,935 in 2019 is now assessed at $269,673.

Using estimates of county and education taxes, McNabb said overall taxes will increase from $3,279 to $3,320 for the average homeowner.

Lennox stated, “I think this is a budget we can all buy into.”

Capital projects slated for 2020 include:

- Durham/Church in Mount Forest, $110,820;

- Durham St. East in Mount Forest, $329,475;

- Wellington St. East Mount Forest, $166,000;

- updating the master servicing plans for Arthur and Mount Forest water and wastewater, $65,000;

- industrial park servicing in Mount Forest, $48,000;

- community-initiated projects, $50,000;

- Kenilworth generator, $75,000;

- council microphone/sound system, $3,260;

- council video system, $10,755;

- Concession 9 bridge (between Sideroads 6W and 7W), $319,000;

- Line 8 bridge (between Sideroads 3 and 7), $50,000;

- 1st Line bridge (between Sideroads 25 and 30), $197,000;

- George/Smith St. in Arthur (connecting Link project contingent on funding), $2,000,000;

- Sideroad 10 West, $110,000.