Clarington Financial Services staff will recommend that council consider an approximate 3.75 per cent increase to the tax levy, according to a municipal statement.
It said the increase is to manage inflationary pressure, and decrease the reliance on the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve Fund.
It’s important to know that, at this point, the Draft 2023 Budget Booklet is just a planning guideline and not the final budget for the year, the statement pointed out.
In 2022, Clarington settled on a 1.99 per cent tax increase (see below).
For 2023, the Town of Whitby recently announced a budget increase of 6 per cent. Oshawa has approved a 4.98 percent rise.
The municipality said the draft booklet has been released to the public and is available on Clarington’s website at www.clarington.net/budget. It outlines the municipality’s financial plan for 2023 to guide policy, decision-making and service levels.
On January 27, a special meeting to review the proposed budget and presentations from external agencies seeking municipal support was held. Today (January 30), council will begin budget deliberations.
Meetings open to public
If needed, there may be an extra budget meeting on February 3. The council meeting to pass the 2023 budget will be held on February 13 at 9:30 am. The budget ratification meeting will be continued, if necessary, on February 17.
These meetings are open to the public to view in person or online at www.clarington.net/calendar.
As council gets to work on the 2023 budget, Clarington residents can offer their input on the budget. Written submissions can be emailed to clerks@clarington.net or visit www.clarington.net/delegations for information on appearing before council, the statement said.