KIRKLAND LAKE - Kirkland Lake is getting its first look at the 2024 budget.
A 9.8 per cent tax levy increase is proposed for Kirkland Lake this year. It includes a $985,000 transfer from the working capital reserve to help decrease the municipal tax levy.
There is a budget presentation tomorrow (March 27) and there are also opportunities coming up for residents to comment.
Kirkland Lake’s total proposed tax for 2024 is $13.1 million. The total levy in 2023 was nearly $12 million.
Water and wastewater rates could be rising higher than anticipated.
Earlier this month, council approved the scheduled increase to the rates, however, the budget proposes increasing it even more.
This would mean a total increase of 4.2 per cent for water and five per cent for wastewater for 2024.
The initial increase previously approved by council was a starting flat rate of $54.92 for water and $45.51 each quarter for sewer for a private house or apartment.
The new proposed increase would mean a starting flat rate of $56.27 for water and $46.17 for sewer.
In 2023, the starting flat rates were $54 per quarter for water and $43.97 for sewer.
SEE: Kirkland Lake resident speaks out about water, sewer rate hike
RELATED: Water, sewer rate hike on tap in Kirkland Lake
The proposed budget includes a complete water, sewer, and road reconstruction on Taylor Avenue this year. The Taylor Avenue reconstruction is part of public works’ 10-year road reconstruction plan.
The municipally owned and operated long-term care home, Teck Pioneer Residence (TPR), budget could go up 184 per cent. This would mean an increase from last year’s $623,044 to $1.7 million.
The report notes that increases in the cost of materials and labour have impacted the budget in recent years. The provincially mandated increase in care standards to ensure a standard of four hours per day per resident is also a factor in the extra costs.
The fire services budget could go up 25.6 per cent. It would bring their 2024 cost to more than $2.5 million, compared to over $2 million in 2023.
The budgeted fire expenditures increased 7.7 per cent. The increase is also driven by projected increases in wages and other expenses as result of ongoing negotiations with the firefighter’s union.
Development services is proposing a 41 per cent decrease in their portion of the operating budget which, if approved, would mean an increase from $632,297 in 2023 to $371,711 in 2024.
The main reason, according to the report, is because the manager of economic development position has been eliminated. The director of development and enterprise services is now covering economic development as well.
Community services is proposing a 6.3 per cent increase, going from more than $3.2 million in 2023 to over $3.4 million for 2024. A substantial rise in insurance and employee benefit costs and the annual cost of living adjustments are listed as factors for the jump.
Public works is forecasting a 2.3 per cent increase. If approved, their 2023 budget of nearly $4.4 million would become roughly $4.5 million for 2024.
Some of the more notable capital projects are:
- $666,680 for the Joe Mavrinac Community Complex’s old pool, $500,000 will be offset with government funding
- $748,248 for infrastructure upgrades at the Joe Mavrinac Community Complex, offset with government funding and reserve funds
- $2.5 million for the Taylor Avenue reconstruction, partly offset with government funding
- $1.1 million for the Government Road Connecting Link, offset with government funding and gas tax
- $711,000 for the OCWA raw water pre-treatment system, offset with reserve funds
- $487,310 for library upgrades
- $1 million for CHAR infrastructure and development, offset with government funding and reserve funds
Earlier this year, 133 residents — mostly homeowners 65 years or older — responded to a budget survey. The top three service priority areas were road maintenance, snow removal and economic development and tourism.
SEE: Kirkland Lake, what do you want in the 2024 budget?
A special council meeting tomorrow is a chance for council members to hear from department staff and ask questions.
The final budget is expected to be passed on April 25.
On April 4 there are three public meetings to allow residents to comment on the 2024 budget, proposed user fee changes, and further increases to the water and wastewater rates.
SEE: Kirkland Lake's user fees could be going up
The meetings start at 4:40 p.m. in council chambers at 3 Kirkland Lake St. W. To take part virtually, email [email protected].
Find out more here. The full draft budget report can be found here.
