Editor's note: As a separated city, Barrie council still has to pass its portion of the county budget, which includes social housing, land ambulance, children's services and Ontario Works.
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.
County 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
