Clarence-Rockland council approved the final budget and the budget bylaw during its November 16 session. The budget includes a 2.25 per cent increase in taxes, less than the 3.99 per cent that was projected during the original budget draft presented to council in September.
For the average homeowner with a house and lot assessed at $301,000 value, the 2021 budget means a $46 increase in the amount of municipal property tax paid compared to 2020. Other property owners whose properties may have higher or lower assessment values will see a greater or lesser increase in their municipal property tax.
The 2021 municipal budget includes an $11.7 million capital works allocation for various infrastructure improvement projects. The budget also includes user fee increases for water and sewer services and garbage collection.
City officials remind all homeowners, business owners, and institutions that have property in the municipality that the tax bill they will receive next spring does not only include the municipal property tax. The 2021 tax bill also includes the property taxes for other entities such as the United Counties of Prescott-Russell, local school boards, and the South Nation Conservation Authority.
The municipality is responsible for collecting all these property taxes and forwarding the money to their respective agencies.
