Thank you for taking the time to review the 2024 Draft Budget project page for Kingsville.

The 2024 draft budge prioritizes the following:

Stronger Infrastructure: The budget includes an increased investment in road and bridge lifecycle reserves by $450,000 to address funding deficits in our roads, bridges, water distribution system, and sanitary and storm sewers. We plan to spend $3.4 million on resurfacing roads, $2.2 million on bridge replacements and rehabilitations, and $260,000 on sidewalk replacements. We will also complete the Road 2 E reconstruction project and add a turning lane on Main St E at Jasperson Dr. to improve traffic flow.

Better Facilities: The budget includes a $200,000 increase in annual facility lifecycle reserve contribution. In 2024, we will spend $695,000 on repairs and maintenance of existing facilities. Additionally, we will replace the Ridgeview Park Recreation Centre and former Gosfield North municipal building with a new community centre in the Cottam area. The 2024 budget includes $2,850,000 for this new facility, which we will finance over ten years.

Service Standards: The Town of Kingsville is committed to providing excellent customer service throughout our operations. The 2024 budget proposes support positions for Fire, Parks, Recreation, Building, and Water services to maintain service levels as the town grows. You can learn more about our Customer Service Standards on our website.

Long-term Planning: The 2024 draft budget invests in our community's future by adding $200,000 to the school property acquisition and development reserve.

Key Challenges

Inflationary pressure has impacted us all on a personal and professional level. The Town is not immune to the general increase in the cost of goods and services, such as fuel, materials, utilities, service contracts and labour. The Canada-wide economic slowdown has also impacted revenue-generating applications (fewer new building permits, for example). Additionally, we faced three major weather events in 2023, which caused damage to public spaces and, at times, required an unprecedented and costly response to assist in cleanup efforts.

Proposed Increase

While keeping taxes low is important, additional funding is required to meet our community's evolving needs and expectations. This budget will allow us to deliver cost-effective services that residents expect while investing in strategic priorities. The draft budget, as proposed, represents an annual increase of $156.23 for the average household in Kingsville (based on MPAC assessment, the average household in Kingsville is assessed at approximately $250,000). We hope you will review the 2024 budget and share your opinion on our open forum.

On a computer screen, the full budget document is on the right hand side of your screen under the "2024 Draft Budget" heading. If you're using a mobile device, keep scrolling down to access.