Council of the Township of South Stormont Approve 2019 Operating and Capital Budgets

South Stormont, ON – On Wednesday, March 13, 2019, Council for the Township of South Stormont approved the 2019 Municipal Budget. The budget represents a balanced approach to the increasing service requirements. Increasing service requirements are a result of downloading of services, increasing/changing service mandates, and growth in the Township.

The approved budget allows the Township to implement a reasonable and affordable local tax rate increase, while proactively accomplishing tasks with an eye towards future years of growth within the Township.

South Stormont capital projects for 2019 include:

• Windermere Drive reconstruction
• Valade Road Bridge repairs
• North Lunenburg Road West asphalt overlay
• Dickinson Drive pedestrian crossover
• Completion of Ingleside Park landscaping
• Upgrades to Long Sault Arena changerooms
• Rosedale Terrace McLennan Park improvements
• St Andrews Fire Station 4 parking lot extension
• Extrication equipment
• Equipment to support streaming of Council meetings
• Software upgrades for Fire Department, Building

The United Counties of SDG will confirm the County budget on Monday, March 18, 2019 and education rates have yet to be confirmed by the Province. The expected blended tax rate for residents of South Stormont represents a 2.99% increase over 2018.

For a South Stormont property assessed in 2018 at $217,085 (average residential property assessment in South Stormont):

• If the assessment does not increase in 2019, the blended tax rate results in an annual $20.48 increase over the 2018 property taxes.
• If the assessment increases in 2019 by 1% the blended tax rate results in an annual $46.45 increase over the 2018 property taxes.
• If the assessment decreases in 2019 by 1% the blended rate results in a $(5.46) decrease over the 2018 property taxes.

The most recent Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) reassessment of individual properties was done in 2016 and took effect in 2017. Those reassessments are phased in over a four-year period and are likely to affect most residential taxpayers in South Stormont.

In addition to the 2019 Operating and Capital Budgets, Council also approved increases for the municipal water and wastewater utility services operated by the Township of South Stormont. The increases for these services in each area of the Township are represented below, and the financial impact on the average household is attached.

Long Sault – 10%

Ingleside – 10%

Eamers Corners/Rosedale – 15%

Newington – 10%

100% of the fees collected for Water and Wastewater services are reinvested back into utility operations, maintenance and capital upgrades.

For additional information and resources regarding the Township of South Stormont 2019 budget, including Department Budget Presentations, detailed operating and capital budgets, changes in residential tax rates over years and more, please visit southstormont.ca/budget-2019.