Council Passes 2024 Budget

South Frontenac Township Council has passed its 2024 budget. The Total Operating and Capital Budget of $44,553,398 million represents a 2.74% increase to the average household or $47.04 a year*.

The budget addresses ongoing priorities such as road and bridge projects, facilities and fleet upgrades, recreational programming and events, technology improvements, climate change, an economic development strategy and transportation master plan.

The 2024 Budget has a tax requisition of $22.4 million and transfer from reserves of $16 million with the remainder being funded from grants and user fees and permits.

Residents were invited to participate in a survey to share their input on the budget. 564 people responded. 70% preferred a reasonable increase to property taxes to maintain or enhance services, citing roads and emergency services as the most important day-to-day operations and roads as the most important capital projects.

“We heard from our residents that a reasonable increase of under 3% would be acceptable to maintain or enhance or services,” says Mayor Ron Vandewal. “We’ve listened to their feedback and the 2024 Budget focuses on maintaining our current levels of service while also incorporating some enhancements so we can continue to grow and provide the services our residents are asking for.”

Budget Highlights

• Operating budget of $26,792,892
• Capital budget of $17,766,740
• $2,030,000 in fleet replacement for Fire and Public Services including a new pumper firetruck and two tandems
• $2,450,000 for Highway 38 reconstruction – transfer to reserves for future funding
• $3,500,000 for Town Hall expansion
• $1,432,000 for Bedford Road reconstruction
• $100,000 for Climate Change initiatives

As part of its 2024 programming, South Frontenac is hoping to offer swim and day camps at three locations next summer, opening a new site at McMullen Beach in Verona.

The budget reflects inflationary pressures, such as rising wages and the costs of materials and services like insurance, utilities, and gas. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) levelled out to 3.1% in October 2023 compared to 6.8% in 2022, 3.4% in 2021 and 0.7% in 2020. The increase in 2022 was a 40-year high.

The budget is aligned with the Township’s long-range financial plan which considers the Township’s ability to fund capital and operations over a 10-year period.

Final budget documents have now been posted on the Township’s public engagement site, engagefrontenac.ca.

*based on an average assessment of $278,126