Adjala-Tos levy to rise 4 per cent

By Brad Pritchard Alliston Herald

ADJALA-TOSORONTIO – Adjala-Tosorontio residents will see a slight bump on their property tax bills next year.

Council has agreed to a 4 per cent increase to the municipal portion of the levy.

The increase, factored in with a 2.5 per cent property assessment increase, works out to an additional $28 per year for the owner of an average home assessed at $385,000.

This does not factor in Simcoe County taxes, which are rising two per cent next year, or education taxes.

Township treasurer Janet Sherwood was unable to provide an estimate because the school boards have not finalized their budgets yet.

In Mayor Tom Walsh’s budget message, he said council’s goal was to keep the municipality a sustainable and desirable place to live.

“I feel that we have arrived at a budget that is sensitive to the needs of our residents, maintains our level of service and continues to look toward the future,” he wrote.

Walsh said he would have liked to see a smaller increase, but said the township had to recoup rising costs, most notably, a 40 per cent increase to its liability insurance – a hike of about $145,000.

For capital projects, $1.6 million has been earmarked under public works, including $455,00 in roads projects. About $108,000 will be used to pay for a portion of the reconstruction of Bridge #9 in Everett (a provincial grant for $975,000 is covering the rest of the costs).

The fire department will get a new tank on one of its water tankers, a cost of $70,000, along with $16,000 for new personal protective equipment.

The parks department meanwhile will get $6,000 to replace bleachers at the township’s ballparks and $4,700 for new playground equipment.