Lasalle council OK'S 1.95% tax hike

Lasalle's town council has approved a 1.95 per cent municipal tax rate increase for next year.

“This year, the budgeting process was not easy,” said Lasalle Mayor Marc Bondy.

“Administration knew that this was going to be a tough budget and all departments kept service level increases to a minimum or status quo. Administration presented us with a very responsible budget.”

The town's administration recommended a 1.95 per cent increase in the 2021 budget and council approved it without further reductions.

The budget requires a $1.7-million levy increase over the 2020 budget, bringing the general levy to $38.4 million.

The increases include approximately $342,800 more for police services, $783,000 for inflation, $300,000 for long-term capital contribution and $287,200 for service level increases.

“In order to keep the tax rate increase low, we scaled back on the annual contribution to the capital reserves and also reduced the amount of funding being put aside for the Small Coast Waterfront project,” said director of finance Dale Langlois, referring to the town's long-term $50-million waterfront redevelopment plan.

“We have not made any major additions to the 2021 budget.”

The 1.95 per cent municipal tax rate increase means an average home valued at $256,000 (using MPAC'S 2016 property assessment) in Lasalle would see an increase of approximately $48.13 on their municipal property taxes.

After taking into account the municipal, County of Essex and education tax rates, it is estimated the overall tax rate increase will amount to 1.32 per cent, according to the town.

For more information about the budget, visit the finance page on the town's website at lasalle.ca.