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Douro-Dummer budget increase set at 3.54%

by Terry McQuitty

Douro-Dummer tabled the final numbers for the 2010 budget at a public meeting held on Tuesday evening.

The estimated levy requirement for 2010 is $3,293,503 which is a $112,506 increase over 2009.

The increase amounts to 3.54 per cent which includes a .5 per cent assessment increase due to growth.

The Township passed a decrease in the residential tax rate by 2.64 per cent however, the average residential assessment value increased by six per cent.

Property assessments within the township went up overall, however of the assessments, 1,540 increased in assessment value while 2,560 decreased in assessment value.

The segment of properties that had the highest rate of increase were farmland or agriculture, not waterfront.

The major capital items in the 2010 budget include an ice resurfacer for the Douro Community Centre valued at $70,000; road upgrades valued at $100,000; a new truck for the Fire Chief at a cost of $35,000; a wharf feasibility study which will run $65,000; and computers and laptops for the office which will cost $35,000.

These items were included in the 25 year forecast and will be funded from reserves.

Douro-Dummer received substantial funding for projects in 2010 including the addition to the municipal building and the reconstruction of University Road, for which the township must supply one third of the money. Due to these projects and others, money must be taken from reserves.

The unaudited balance for reserves as of December 31, 2009 was $4,022,419.49 and the estimated balance for December 31, 2010 is $3,145,565.73.

Treasurer Darlene Heffernan stated that this year more funds will be required from reserves due to funding obligations, however more money will be directed to reserves in years to come.

Reeve J. Murray Jones told the gallery that the council goal was to come in at a three per cent increase for 2010 and taking away the .5 per cent increase due to growth the budget is very close.

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