By Chad Ingram

Published Feb. 27

Residents of Dysart et al may be happy to learn they'll be looking at a pretty meagre property tax increase this year.

Councillors for the municipality discussed the draft budget during a Feb. 20 meeting and at the end of that discussion the tax levy increase over last year was sitting at 1.5 per cent.

That will amount to additional taxation of $3.93 for every $100000 of assessment for residential properties; $5.82 for every $100000 of assessment for commercial properties; and $6.74 for every $100000 of assessment for industrial properties.

While the levy increase in the draft budget heading into last week's meeting was just 0.19 per cent council added an additional $108000 for winter road maintenance – $45000 for snow plowing and removal and $63000 for sanding and salting – bringing the levy increase to 1.5 per cent.

Just more than $8 million of the township's budget of nearly $15 million will be derived from property taxes.

Of that nearly $15 million just more than $2 million will be spent on general government; $3.2 million on protective services which includes the municipality's OPP bill; $4.6 million on transportation services which includes the roads department; $2.6 on environmental services which includes landfills; $175000 on health services; $20000 on family and social services; approximately $1.6 million on recreation and culture; and about $580000 for planning and development.

Dysart's levy increase will be the lowest of Haliburton County's four lower-tier townships. The tax levy increase in Highlands East is sitting at 2.4 per cent. In Algonquin Highlands the figure is just more than four per cent and in Minden Hills council is looking at an 8.6 per cent levy increase.

Dysart et al council is scheduled to pass the 2018 budget at its March meeting.