Springwater Township council’s reaction Wednesday night to the proposed 2025 budget was swift and expected.
There was no way council would support a proposed increase of 14.16 per cent to the municipal levy, which, when combined with the proposed four per cent increase from the County of Simcoe, would result in a blended tax bill increase of 8.31 per cent, or an annual increase of $367.21 for a typical single-family detached dwelling with an assessed value of $497,000.
“I have received no less than 25 email messages and phone calls about the budget,” Coun. Anita Moore said when the topic came up for discussion. “Residents are really concerned.
“I think it’s a large pill for us to swallow,” she added.
Moore recommended staff take it back and bring back something more palatable.
And she wasn’t alone.
Coun. Danielle Alexander had issues with the proposed budget that were further exasperated when she included the proposed program changes that have been suggested.
When those changes are added, she sees an increase closer to 20 per cent. (Program changes, largely comprised of staff increases, are recommendations that may or may not be approved.)
“With program changes, I’m looking at just under a 20 per cent increase,” she said. “That’s just completely out of touch with the economic climate of the country, the province and this township.
“I truly hope when we dive into this binder, staff are willing to prioritize what they really need,” Alexander added.
That’s already been done, according to Jeff Schmidt, the township’s chief administrative officer.
He told council that the township’s senior management was well aware of what was being presented and they’d had numerous meetings and conversations before presenting it.
“We are here to present to you our best professional advice,” Schmidt said. “You just received your budget binders here today and haven’t had the opportunity to really dig in.
“I would respectfully ask that you give us the opportunity to engage in more discussions with you next week, one-on-ones, as well as through our deliberation meetings later this month so we can really unpack what’s being presented to members of council so that we can hopefully better inform you as to what are some of the pressures and challenges the municipality is facing," he added.
“In my opinion, It would be premature for council not to allow us to continue to have the conversation,” Schmidt said.
He told council the pressures the township is facing are not going to go away.
“The number hopefully is not going to be the number that you're seeing tonight,” Schmidt said. “We need to educate you on why the number is what the number is. There’s a lot there.”
Springwater Mayor Jennifer Coughlin said nobody wants to see an increase like the one staff proposed, but she wasn’t totally surprised, either. She said the township has been putting off increases for too long and it’s finally catching up with them.
“Kicking (a tax increase) down the road is what got us here,” Coughlin said, noting staff have, over the past few years, recommended tax increases, but council has cut it back to two, one or zero per cent every year.
“That’s what’s led us to 14 this year,” she added. “I will not make this my children’s problem.”
The numbers bear out Coughlin’s view. Since 2017, Springwater residents have experienced an annual average blended tax increase of just 1.67 per cent. The single largest increase was in 2023 when the blended tax increase was 3.92 per cent.
In an amendment to the main motion, Deputy Mayor George Cabral suggested staff take the proposal back and return to council with three additional drafts: one with a 12 per cent increase to the municipal levy; one with a 10 per cent increase to the municipal levy; and one with an eight per cent increase to the municipal levy.
Additionally, he requested staff prioritize the program changes.
In a recorded vote, council passed Cabral's amendment and the main motion.
Coughlin, Cabral, Garwood, Alexander and Thompson voted in favour, while Moore and Fisher voted against the motion.
