Proposed Oxford County Budget Includes Potential Tax Increase

Thursday, 24 November 2016 at 05:23

Oxford County Council is considering a proposed 2017 budget that could include a tax increase.

OXFORD COUNTY - It looks like the 2017 budget for Oxford might include a tax increase. County Council is considering a proposed budget of over $231.8 million that comes with a tax increase of 4.6%.

CAO Peter Crockett tells Heart FM the reasoning behind the tax increase:

"The year over year costs - largely being driven by salaries, benefits, and utilities are the key drivers in that slightly higher than inflation increase in our day to day costs from one year to the next."

Residents in the county have been able to take part in an online survey which helps them voice their opinion on what their tax dollars are used for.

Crockett tells us about the survey results so far.

"I think the survey overall shows that there's a very strong support for the fact that our residents feel they get value for the tax dollars that we collect. At the same time there's information there to help us inform where those programs may need to go as we move forward."

Here's a list of some of the big projects included in the proposed budget for 2017:

County road improvements - $14,813,266
Bridge rehabilitation - $3,300,000
Facilities solar projects - $2,740,000
Sustainability cluster - $2,000,000
Fleet vehicles - $1,719,000
Salford landfill facility - $1,200,000
Woodstock wastewater and Brick Ponds Trunk Sewer - $1,035,100
Courthouse renovations - $1,000,000

Council has already discussed the budget at two different meetings and will meet up again on November 30th before finalizing it on December 14th.

Warden David Mayberry tells Heart FM why he does not want council to rush the final budget decision.

"This is affecting every single person in Oxford County. I never want to be in a hurry to pass a budget; we can take as much time to make sure we have thought through it carefully. I'm actually quite pleased and we're right on where we should be and I am looking forward to the discussions that we'll have on the 30th and again on the 14th."

Click here for more information regarding the proposed budget for 2017