Clearview budget goes to public with 3.42% increase

The public is invited to comment on the proposed 2017 Clearview Township budget at a Nov. 14 meeting at town hall in Stayner.

Council and staff have put together a budget that reflects a 3.42 per cent increase in the municipal portion of taxes with an estimated overall increase of 1.73 per cent once policing costs, county and education taxes are factored in. With a 1.73 per cent increase, the median average home assessed at $260,923 would see an increase of about $50 in their property taxes.

The total 2017 proposed budget is $39.4 million which is composed of $26.1 million in the operating budget plus $13.3 million in the capital budget.

Approximately 1.71 per cent of the increase is due to: $109,000 for various economic development initiatives for Clearview including $50,000 for a proposed new façade improvement grant, $50,000 for a Clearview beautification fund; $70,125 to expand the Clearview transit from a half year funding to a full year funding; and $43,660 for increased spending on winter roads maintenance.

Council will take another look at the budget during a workshop on Nov. 28 before passing it in the spring.

The Nov. 14 meeting will be held at the Clearview Administration Centre at 21 Gideon Street in Stayner.

The budget public meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. The full budget package is available online at www.clearview.ca/home/budget.