Proposed 2024 WN Tax Increase: 5.3%

Council begins budget deliberations.

West Nipissing Council had their first budget meeting this week.

The CAO began his presentation by outlining that the municipality will be still be short a $1 million in 2024. Despite having just sold the Cache Bay Trailer Park for $761,000 and despite raising taxes by over 5% in 2023.

This will result in a proposed tax increase of 5.3%. Council learned that this increase does not reflect any additional special projects for 2024 or any long-term solution to the Verner water problem.

Council was told that this shortfall started much higher with an initial proposed tax increase of around 12% before being squeezed down to 5.3%.

Some of the projected increase include a $95,000 jump in insurance costs and $60,000 for what is is described as an “Increase in supplemental billings to reflect growing community and historic trends”.

HR COSTS KEEP CLIMBING

But by far, the biggest increase in expenses will come from human resources. Our 2023 budget for HR was $9.1 million. For 2024, this number is projected to go up to $9.9 million. This represents a 9% increase. In 2022, this line was only $8.4 million which means HR costs for West Nipissing will have gone up 18% in just two years.

This is just the first among several planned meetings for council to debate the 2024 budget. Council could push for a higher increase if they want special projects approved. They could also seek to reduce the proposed increase by finding savings.

This municipality has seen a drastic increase in tax rates as of late. In 2023, council approved a 5% increase. Between 2019 and 2023, this city’s taxes went up 21%. If this council approves a 5.3% increase, taxpayers will have seen increases over 5% for four of the last six years.

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