WELLINGTON COUNTY – The 2024 budget has been approved in Wellington County.
Bringing a 4.6 per cent tax increase to residents, Warden Andy Lennox says construction was a costly aspect of this budget.
Noting other pressures during a meeting Thursday morning, councillor Chris White pointed out adding nine paramedics and 24 shelter beds, while worthwhile, also comes with a price tag.
Several motions were also tabled- one of the two approved. The first of which was to remove the increase in cost for yellow garbage bags, a motion that had solely the support of councillor Jeff Duncan.
The second will see the Wellington Place pavilion’s financial implications altered, as committee staff are now tasked with reducing the cost of that development to $775,000 or less.
Lennox says while inflation is subsiding a tad nationally, locally it was a big factor in the hike this year.
Lennox went on to say housing and homelessness were also major factors the county is investing significant resources in.
He thanked county staff for their work on the budget, something he said is “not an easy process.”
