Bruce County council appears settled on a final budget for 2017.
Council gave draft approval to the budget as the corporate services committee, rubber stamping a 3.5% increase to the tax levy next year, or a $1.4-million increase in tax spending.
Director of Corporate Services Bettyanne Cobean says the actual increase to taxpayers will likely end up being lower once assessment growth is factored in.
She says that information is not available yet, but past results indicate growth should drop the increase to the average tax bill down to 2.5%.
An additional $55,000 was added to the levy in final deliberations as council added two last-minute donations and Warden Mitch Twolan says local politicians need to start taking a "collaborative approach" as community groups request public funds at both the lower-tier and county level.
Twolan says it can be tough deciding on donation requests, but adds it's something that has to be done.
"We're elected for the people and the people ask us to do these things and it doesn't always make the best business sense," says Twolan. "But at the end of the day, you're making decisions what you think is best for your community."
Bruce County council will vote on final ratification of the 2017 budget at its next meeting on December 1.
