2024 Operating Budget Presentation
Tiffany Farrell, Director of Corporate Services, presented the 2024 Operating Budget to Council. The Capital Budget was presented to Council at their previous meeting on Nov. 1.
Summary of Draft Operating Budget
The budget is split into operating and capital costs. The operating budget looks at the day-to-day expenditures of the municipality. This includes wages, utilities, supplies, fuel and insurance, among other costs. Much like household bills, these costs increase with inflation.
2024 Operating Costs = $49,300,886
Top costs in the operating budget include:
- Transfer to Reserve Funds - $17.2 million (34.9%)
- Wages & Benefits - $10.9 million (22.2%)
- Subcontracted Services - $5.3 million (10.7%)
The operating budget is funded from several sources. In 2024, revenues will come from property taxes (49%), user fees (33%), grants and subsidies (8%) and other sources (10%).
The total (operating and capital) 2024 Middlesex Centre budget is $79.93 million.
Proposed Tax Rate Increase
2024 Tax Rate Increase = 3.22%
Within the recommended 3.22% tax rate increase, Middlesex Centre has the fundamental building blocks of a well-considered municipal budget. The 2024 budget addresses increasing costs due to inflation, maintains the current level of services and allows for much needed infrastructure construction and repair.
Next Steps
It is important to note that the information presented above is considered draft at this time. The final draft budget will be presented to Council for approval at their meeting on Dec. 20, 2023.
Budget Documents and Background Materials
Links to the draft budget, presentations to Council, and budget background materials can be found on the municipal website under Budget 2024.
2024 Water, Wastewater and Stormwater Rates
Also at the meeting, Council approved rate changes for the coming year:
- the water rate will increase by 1% (the first rate change since 2021);
- the rate for wastewater will increase by 4% for both fixed and volumetric fees; and
- the rate for stormwater will increase by 2.5%.
With this change, the average rate impact will be 2.64% for most users, or $4.10 per month, when weighted across the three services. The impact to each property will vary slightly depending on water consumption. For more details, please see the Water, Wastewater and Stormwater Rates for 2024 page on the municipal website.
In Brief
- Approved the 2024 Fees and Charges By-law. This by-law outlines the fees for a number of municipal services not covered by taxes, from planning to marriages to public skating. Where fees are increasing, they have been kept at or below inflation and/or were changed to better align with the fees of neighbouring municipalities.
- Received information regarding a failed tax sale of a municipal property. This land-locked property was offered under a municipal tax sale in March and received no bids. Council approved a tax write off for the property amounting to $4,500, and further approved vesting the property to come under municipal ownership.
- Received an update on the staff-driven continuous improvement initiatives that have taken place over the last year.
- Received the budget to actual report for October 2023.
- Gave pre-budget approval for specific capital projects to allow for procurement processes to move forward to ensure that 2024 deadlines are met.
- Directed staff to proceed with activities related to two drainage petition submissions: Gideon Drive Drainage and a tile drain loan along Ilderton Road.
- Met in closed session to receive an update on a potential property disposition in Ward 2 and provided direction to staff. Questions related to closed session meetings may be directed to the Municipal Clerk.
Planning Matters
Council heard a number of planning applications.
Next Council Meeting
The next regularly scheduled Middlesex Centre Council Meeting is set for Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, at 9:30 a.m. Please note that council meetings will be held at the Ilderton Community Centre for the duration of the municipal office renovation.
Meeting times are subject to change, so please confirm with the meeting agenda when posted.
For More Information
For more details on any of these items, see the full meeting agenda or contact the Municipal Clerk. You can view the meeting on YouTube.
Meeting highlights are prepared to give residents timely updates on council decisions. The Council Meeting Minutes are the official record of the meeting.