Scugog Council has passed the revised 2025 budget on January 27, which includes an increase of 6.6 per cent for Scugog services.
This works out to 2.02 per cent on the overall tax bill, which also includes Durham Region Services and the School Board and equates to a monthly increase of about $9.86 for the average assessed residential property ($438,000) in Scugog, based on the 2016 MPAC assessment, according to a statement released yesterday.
Based on the draft budget document presented earlier this month (see below), the percentage increase in total property tax for a residential property with a assessed value of $438,000 was 4.54 per cent, 1.96 per cent of this combined increase on the overall tax bill was for township purposes.
“When this report was drafted early in December, the Region of Durham had not set their tax rate. The township’s report and subsequent calculations therefore reflect the 4.9 per cent estimated regional tax rate increase. These numbers will be updated at the end of the month when staff bring forward the report to recommend adoption of the budget as presented,” Laura E. Barta, Scugog Director of Finance/Treasurer, told Durham Post earlier.
Several municipalities have announced their 2025 tax levy. They include:
Scugog Roads & Infrastructure
The capital program for roads and infrastructure will see an investment of 4 per cent, and the balance of the 6.6 per cent will be dedicated to maintaining operations and services like recreation programming and camps, road repair and plowing, clerk and administrative services, and supporting the Scugog Library.
Over 40 projects will be delivered, focusing on road improvements, including bridges, sidewalks, culverts, vehicle and equipment replacement, and infrastructure improvements, including updates at the Scugog Community Recreation Centre.
Benefits of the Scugog budget listed in the statement include:
- New four-season washroom and splash pad opening summer
- Scugog Line 4 culvert replacement with modular bridge
- $1.7mn invested in improving roads and sidewalks
- Investment in Scugog Shores Museum Village for tourism and visitation plan
- Feasibility study for a new field house to increase recreation services
- New pumper truck to ensure delivery of fire protection services
- New generator for Scugog Community Recreation Centre (SCRC) to ensure continuity of services during power outages and to provide emergency services to the community
- Investment for rehabilitation on external structure of town hall 1873
- Other areas include investing in gravel and continuing to invest in playground rehabilitation.
“On behalf of council I extend my thanks to the community for their input to our budget and to our staff for their excellent work in preparing and presenting the recommendations. Scugog’s Budget 2025 provides us with the opportunity to introduce new levels of service, such as the four-season washrooms in Palmer Park and supports our continuing work to deliver the services that are valued by our community. The budget enables us to continue to improve our roads and to rehabilitate facilities and address equipment needs. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the 2025 budget process,” said Scugog Mayor Wilma Wotten.
The approved 2025 budget is available online at Budget Project Page.