The County of Simcoe's 2022 budget is set with a two per cent tax increase for residents and a total of $638 million earmarked for next year's business.
Residents will be paying about $5.50 more per $100,000 of assessed value on their property for next year's tax bills (total is about $280 per $100,000 assessed value). The county has dipped into reserves to keep the tax increase from getting any higher for 2022.
In 2021, county council passed a budget with zero tax increase.
According to a news release from the county, the budget was approved Nov. 23, with expenses increasing over last year because of COVID-19 pressures, growth, investment, and requests from council for enhanced service levels.
Included in the $638 million budget for 2022 is the following:
- $104 million for long-term care homes and senior services
- $64 million for paramedic services
- $46 million for children's services
- $102 million for social housing
- $88 million for Ontario Works
- $57 million for transportation and engineering
- $77 million for solid waste management
You can also view the 2022 County of Simcoe budget overview online here.
The 2022 budget includes 44 new full-time, permanent staff positions with more than 26 for the paramedic services and long-term care departments.
SEE ALSO: County council gives initial approval to $638M budget with 2% tax hike