The county has crunched the numbers, and for Orillia in 2019, that number is $5.6 million.
The 2019 County of Simcoe draft budget was presented to county council on Tuesday. It outlines how the county intends to spend its budget in 2019.
The proposed tax increase for taxpayers across the county is 2%, which works out to an increase of $5.70 per $100,000 of MPAC assessment.
Orillia residents do not pay taxes at the county level, as Orillia is considered a separated city. Instead, the municipality allots a specific amount in their own budget to pay for the use of some county services.
For the City of Orillia, their contribution to use county services (Long Term Care & Seniors Services, Paramedic Services, Children and Community Services, Ontario Works, Social Housing Non-Profit and the Simcoe County Housing Corporation) will carry a price tag of $5.6 million for 2019, an increase of 2.5% over 2018.
“I like the way it went. It was very collaborative,” said newly minted Warden George Cornell after budget talks concluded. “It’s important to have a good discussion about the items as it’s a significant budget.”
The total county budget for 2019 is $550 million.
“There’s a significant amount of services we provide to our residents in the county, and it’s important that council takes the time to go through it,” he said.
Cornell noted there are 15 new members of county council at the table for this round of talks.
“The budget process allows you to (develop a greater) understanding of the services that are provided here at the county, and the level of services that we provide, the costs associated with that, and the benefits our residents get,” said Cornell.
“There was some good discussion over a few items, but they were able to be accommodated, and now we’re at a point where we’re able to recommend the budget to council on Jan. 22.”
During talks Tuesday, some Orillia-specific projects were mentioned.
Phase 1 of the Orillia Community Project is slated to be completed in 2019, costing the county $75,000.
In 2018, county council approved the purchase of the former Orillia District Collegiate and Vocational Institute (ODCVI) property in Orillia for a County Service Hub.
Staff are requesting Phase 1 funds to move this project forward in several phases over the coming years. Phase 1 includes a community consultation process.
Trillium Manor will also be getting $254,000 for a partial roof replacement, steam tables, flooring and air handling units as well as other operating expenses.
The 2% tax increase for residents not living in Barrie and Orillia would represent $3.3 million in additional funding for the county coffers.
For the separated City of Barrie, their contribution to use some county services (Long Term Care & Seniors Services, Paramedic Services, Children and Community Services, Ontario Works, Social Housing Non-Profit, Simcoe County Housing Corporation, the county museum and archives) comes with a price tag of $22.5 million for 2019, an increase of 9.5% over 2018 numbers.
The draft budget was referred to the Jan. 22 regular council meeting for adoption. The City of Orillia will begin its budget deliberations Monday.
Total county budget ($550 million) breakdown by department
- Administrative and Statutory Support - $37 million
- Paramedic Services - $73.2 million
- Planning and Economic Development - $5.1 million
- Social Housing - $90 million
- Transportation and Engineering – $68.6 million
- Solid Waste Management - $45.9 million
- General Municipal Services - $28.1 million
- Long Term Care and Seniors Services - $60.1 million
- Transit - $7 million
- Children and Community Services - $62.3 million
- Ontario Works - $72.8 million
