NIPIGON — Township council will start to deliberate the final draft of its 2025 budget on Tuesday.
For 2025, Mayor Suzanne Kukko said there would be an increase in the township's tax levy.
"That's what we're working on currently. We don't know exactly what it's going to be, but it's going to be in between about five to five and half per cent," said Kukko.
Tuesday's deliberations will work toward preparing the taxation rates and associated bylaws, including a combined water rate and sewer services bylaw, for the April 22 council meeting.
Kukko sits on the financial committee, which has met several times over the past few months to review draft budgets. She said they are almost at the point where they hope to pass the budget.
"We're just going to be looking at the major capital projects that are budgeted for 2025 and then just looking for any input from the rest of the council members in regards to the budget," said Kukko.
The levy will also include Nipigon's $2,634 share of a local OPP detachment board's 2025 draft budget, passed in its last meeting.
"We run on a $4.5 million budget, so $2,634 does not impact our budget at all," said Kukko.
Also on Tuesday's agenda is looking into a bylaw to amend the existing water rates and fees by adding a 20 per cent sewer charge for all properties that do not currently pay any sanitation taxes on their property tax bill.
Some organizations that own buildings in the town, including schools and government buildings, currently pay a fee in lieu of taxes, explained Kukko.
"They're not paying more money. It's just separated out from their property taxes and that would allow us to then charge those buildings that don't currently contribute to the sanitation sewer services to pay their share if we're billing it separately," said Kukko.
This charge would replace what would be added initially to their property tax bills and combine it with their water bill.
In doing so, Kukko said it would allow the township to increase their revenue towards sanitation as its parts, maintenance and operating the wastewater system are getting more expensive.
Although, she added that it doesn't necessarily affect the overall budget they're putting together.
Subject to council approval, the bylaw would come into effect on July 1.
Afterwards, staff would draft a report with information on transferring sanitation costs from property tax bills under the special area rate to a line item on the township's quarterly water bills, which would come into effect on Jan. 1, 2026.
As part of a Township of Nipigon Strategic Plan developed last year, Kukko said one of their objectives is to provide residents with an opportunity to meet with elected officials and staff in person to help them better understand the township's inner workings.
"We are planning a town hall meeting, mainly revolving around the budget, on May 6, which is going to happen just prior to the council meeting that's planned for that night," said Kukko.
"So normally, we would have our council meeting at our council chambers, but for that evening, we're going to have it at the Nipigon Community Centre."
She said they're inviting residents to come out starting around 6 p.m. for an open house and meet and greet before talking about a 2025 budget recap, as well as looking at the capital plan for 2025 and looking forward to 2026.
"We're hoping that folks will come out to that. And there will be an opportunity to ask questions about the budget and about other capital projects that we have planned for 2025 and 2026," said Kukko.
