The Town of Amherstburg is about to start finalizing its spending plan for 2021.
Mayor Aldo DiCarlo, town councillors, and town administration will begin on Tuesday evening three scheduled days of budget deliberations. These deliberations will be handled virtually and streamed over the town's official website.
The budget, subtitled as "Service Levels and Sustainability in Uncertain Times", has been drawn up in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has resulted in big changes in the way Amherstburg does business.
These changes may continue in 2021, with uncertainty surrounding the pandemic not doing much to help matters.
"The level of uncertainty at this time is unparalleled in at least the past 75 years of town operations," read the budget overview posted on the town's website. "Administration has included service impact assumptions in the budget. However, the actual service levels and financial impacts for 2021 could vary widely based on the evolving circumstances related to COVID-19."
According to the overview, the recommended spending plan reflects a shortfall due to the reflection in the tax rate for 2020. If the budget passes as it is currently drafted, it will include a 7.55 per cent tax increase to address the shortfall and keep service levels as they are.
For the owner of a home valued at $250,000, the increase will come to another $185 a year in property tax.
Deliberations are scheduled to run Tuesday night from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and will be streamed live. Talks are also scheduled Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and if needed, Thursday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
