At Tuesday, Dec 8th, Carleton Place council committee of the whole meeting, town treasurer Trisa McConkey provided an update on the 2021 budget figures and proposed a 1.97% municipal property tax increase. This would amount to an extra $37 on a home valued at $274K, the median value in town. The total planned revenues from all sources (taxation, user fees, development charges and provincial/federal grants) are projected at $24M, a figure $7M less than 2020. In a comparison chart, McConkey showed that of 11 similarly sized and serviced municipalities, Carleton Place was second last in property taxation with only Kemptville being cheaper. The top five categories of expenses covered by property taxes are transportation services, police, protective services, recreation/culture, and solid waste.
Two of the biggest 2021 infrastructure projects, the refurbishing of Gillies Bridge (at McArthur Island) and Bell Street reconstruction are related to the central bridge’s replacement scheduled for 2022. Municipal property taxes amount to roughly a third of the total levy with county and education portions comprising the remainder. McConkey also informed council that the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) would not be reassessing any Ontario properties in 2021 and warned that owners might experience a substantial difference when the next round of MPAC action takes place in 2022. The budget will move forward for further discussion and eventual ratification.