Town of Midland has Released the Draft 2024 Budget

Media Release

Town of Midland has Released the Draft 2024 Budget 

For Immediate Release

(December 13, 2023, Midland ON) The Town of Midland has released its Draft 2024 Budget to the public and is available on the Town’s website. The proposed budget outlines a balanced strategy that ensures sustainable service delivery to Midland residents, while minimizing financial impacts on the tax levy.

“The Town’s CFO presented a high-level overview of the Draft 2024 Budget at the December 6thCouncil meeting,” said Town of Midland Mayor Bill Gordon. “Council looks forward to carefully reviewing this comprehensive document which includes the preliminary recommendations prepared by Town Administration. It’s also important that the community becomes informed on the Draft 2024 Budget and takes the opportunity to provide feedback or attend the Budget Public Meeting on January 17^th. Then in late January, Council and Staff will continue the budget process with three days of deliberations to arrive at an approved budget.”

Highlights of the Draft 2024 Budget include:

• Enhancements to recreational spaces: Little Lake Park sits in the heart of Midland as a go to destination for all residents and visitors. Upgrades and full redesign to the well-loved community garden, as well as the exciting addition of a roof structure to cover Rotary Stage.
• Replacement of essential vehicles and equipment: Addition of required vehicles to create a new level of access and increase safety preparedness in Midland, a new accessible transit van and a pumper truck for Fire Department.
• Investing in sustainable infrastructure replacement: The Town’s 10-Year Capital Plan ensures the vital reconstruction of infrastructure that ensures reliable and sustainable growth.
• Supporting local organizations and boards: Through funding, in-kind services, or other means of support, the Town invests directly back into the community.
• Actively seeking grant funding to reduce the burden on the tax levy: Providing input for affordable and attainable housing, transforming public spaces with art, and improvements to infrastructure.

Proposed tax rates include:

• The Town’s base budget increase is 4.46% (including the requests from Agencies, Boards and Commissions) 
  • This increase allows the Town to maintain service levels and provides for free downtown parking to the Community. 
  • Significant contributions will be made to Town capital reserves to ensure that the services provided today remain in place for residents and community partners to enjoy. 

• With Council’s strategic priorities in mind, Council and staff have also put forward several new investment and service recommendations for Council’s careful consideration during budget deliberations. These requests, along with an increased contribution to the Sustainable Capital Levy equate to another 2.73%. 
• If all service recommendations are adopted, the Town rate of 7.19%, is expected to blend down to a rate of 5.86%, when the impact of the County and Board of Education are considered. 
  • This all-in rate translates into an increase of $7.76 per month per $100,000 of residential property assessment. 
  • The Water Rate will increase by 5% = This equals an additional $1.80 per month for a typical user. 
    • This increase supports the critical infrastructure necessary to deliver clean, safe drinking water. 
  • The Wastewater Rate will increase by 4% This equals an additional $1.60 per month for a typical user.
    • This increase supports the critical infrastructure necessary to effectively treat wastewater before it is discharged in Georgian Bay.  

“We are confident this draft budget balances affordability while supporting the quality delivery of services that our residents rely on, and ensures ongoing vital enhancements to our infrastructure,” said CFO Lindsay Barron. “While we continue to face numerous economic pressures, we have worked to keep the tax rate consistent in recent years to limit the overall tax levy impact. We look forward to receiving input from Council and the community over the six-week budget review period. Comments or questions can be e-mailed to budget@midland.ca.” 

The 2024 Budget process will continue in January 2024 on the following schedule:

• December 13, 2023, to January 19, 2024 - Budget Review and Public Q&A Period. Questions can be submitted to budget@midland.ca.  
• January 17, 2024 - Budget Public Meeting. 
• January 30 to February 1, 2024 – Council/Staff Budget Deliberations/Approval. Including presentations by the Agencies, Boards and Commissions.

The Town of Midland Draft 2024 Budget is available on the Town’s website at midland.ca/budget2024.