Wawa Municipal Council's had its first look at this year's operating budget.
Just over a month after seeing the initial draft for the capital budget, Council looked at the proposed multi-year operating budget, which focuses on 2025 but also lays out some plans for 2026-28.
Council was told that staff sought to minimize the levy impact and property tax increase while maintaining service and addressing priorities laid out by Council - particularly through the Strategic and other plans - but increasing costs for everything - including payroll and meeting capital needs - has staff recommending a 4.03 percent tax levy increase, along with the introduction of an estimated 1.8 percent capital levy.
As presented to Council, those - along with a slight water and sewer services increase - will amount to $15.27 more per month - or about $183 a year - for an average single detached house of $100,000 assessed value - the median for Wawa - and 70 cubic meters of water use and 61 of sewer.
Treasurer Manuela Batovanja noted the capital budget has been modified from the version presented in November - including adding the purchase of a trailer, 2 compressors for the Water Treatment Plant, funds for new Industrial Park design, and for Upper Mission Park, a project that will be subject to funding - bringing the capital budget's total to $7.3-million, with $855,930 in long-term capital planned.
While it was noted Council has options to lower the levy increase, they were warned most options either require cutting services, using reserves, or increasing user fees.
The full presentation can be viewed on the Municipality's YouTube channel, and will be available on the municipal website, with public input to be accepted until January 31st - there was a suggestion an open house could be held - with plans for the combined budget to be discussed again February 4th, then voted on February 18th.