North Huron council finalized its budget for this year at a special meeting on Monday.
Reeve Paul Heffer says council was very pleased with the budget staff brought forward with an increase of 7.09 per cent. Heffer says he was also pleased that the budget will have very little impact on the services that residents expect.
Heffer says they did have to take about $250,000 out of reserves to hold the increase at 7.09. But he adds, they do have a bit coming back into reserves to try and help with some of the projects they've got coming up, including some road improvements. He says they didn't want to take a lot and that was a concern for council, but they did have to take some out.
Heffer adds, for an average home in East Wawanosh, the increase will translate into $40 a month. For a home in Blyth it will be $27 dollars a month, and in Wingham homeowners will see a decrease of $22 a month. Heffer says the higher figure in East Wawanosh is to cover the cost of the road work there and the decrease in Wingham is a result of the new OPP formula.
Heffer adds, he was particularly pleased to hold the increase at 7.09 per cent without significantly impacting current services.