The Municipality of Lakeshore has passed its next annual spending plan with a minimal resident tax increase.
Lakeshore Council approved on Thursday the Municipality's 2025 budget, with a 2.91 per cent property tax increase.
That translates into an average annual increase of $54 for the Municipality's portion of property tax bills. The County of Essex and school board portions account for an additional $55 monthly.
The draft budget called for a 7.61 per cent increase, but Mayor Tracey Bailey said a lot was accomplished during council deliberations.
"Our deliberations took a critical and comprehensive look at the entirety of Lakeshore’s financial picture, and council made a number of difficult decisions," said Bailey. "We continue to face significant financial challenges, including the ongoing impact of inflation as well as pending costs outlined in the Water and Wastewater Master Plan and Fire Master Plans. In the face of those pressures, the 2025 Budget is the product of a sensible decision-making process that focuses on delivering value while limiting the impact on taxpayers."
Bailey added that the increase was below the rate of inflation.
The budget will be signed off on at a future Lakeshore Council meeting.