Inflation key issue as draft budget presented to CK council

CHATHAM-KENT – Inflationary pressure is the driving force behind a projected 4.74 per cent tax increase as Chatham-Kent Council got its first look at the 2022 Draft Municipal Budget on Wednesday, January 12.

“More than 90 per cent of the current increase is due to the inflation,” said Councillor and Budget Chair Brock McGregor. “It affects every facet of what we do. Construction costs alone are up eight per cent.”

Mayor Darrin Canniff said last fall council gave municipal staff a goal of keeping a 2022 budget increase to 5.03 per cent, allowing 3.3 per cent for inflation.

“We have all seen increases in items we buy on a daily basis,” he said. “This is true for the municipality also, the costs of materials and services we purchase have increased significantly due to inflation.”

McGregor said staff came back with a 4.74 per cent increase by finding efficiencies while trying to maintain the same level of services residents expect.

“No one likes service cuts,” he said. “We offer services based on taxpayers’ wants and needs. Every budget is a balancing act. We are mindful of the stresses the pandemic has placed on segments of our community and we will work to find the best path forward.”

Formal budget deliberations will begin January 26, and continue January 27 and February 1 from 6-10 p.m. If more time is required, February 2 and 3 have also been set aside.

Written deputations of up to five minutes in length are welcome each evening. Submissions must be made by email to ckfps@chatham-kent. ca before 3 p.m. each day.

Comments can also be made by:

• Mail: Budget & Performance Services, Municipality of Chatham-Kent, 315 King Street W., P.O. Box 640, Chatham, Ontario, N7M 5K8

• Telephone: 519-360- 1998

All budget meetings will be live streamed on the YourTV YouTube channel and broadcast on YourTV. Community consultations will be broadcast on the Municipality of Chatham-Kent’s Facebook Live feed.

Municipal budget details can be found at https:// www.chatham-kent.ca/localgovernment/ budget/Pages/Our-Municipal-Budgets.aspx