2024 Proposed Budget

I agree with comments already provided and I listed below. Their comments reflect a recurring theme – the budget does not recognize the current economic climate of the significant rise in the cost of living, mortgage rates, interest rates, and taxes with its devastating impact on those who are on a fixed or low income. With this backdrop, the budget should minimize the property tax increase by prioritizing necessary / essential projects and removing nice to have projects.
Growth needs to fund itself. The development charges paid by developers should cover the cost of additional required infrastructure resulting from the development and this cost should not be paid by the tax payer.

ABowden
CAO salary increase of 19.8%
FINANCIAL BURDEN on homeowners particularly those ON FIXED INCOME or those already STRUGGLING WITH THE COST OF LIVING AND INCREASED MORTGAGE RATES
Transparency about how the additional tax revenue will be used. It is not clear that the funds will be USED FOR NECESSARY AND BENEFICIAL PROJECTS.
Consider NEEDS and REQUIREMENTS first
Daveschultz IS IT A WANT OR A NEED.
Now is NOT A TIME TO TAKE ON DEBT for the next 25 years.
RH a 10.5% tax hike is ..unacceptable. Our municipal government needs to learn to LIVE WITHIN ITS MEANS
Shouldn’t GROWTH FUND ITSELF and actually benefits the county instead of being a burden?
PROPERTY TAX may only amount to 3% of #134,00 but A HUGE 13% OF A PENSIONER'S INCOME With grocery inflation and the rising cost of everything how much pressure do you intent to instill on our seniors to alleviate your own?
STE Focus on infrastructure and completing jobs instead of finding more ways to waste tax money.
INCREASES ARE NOT JUSTIFIED
Dfm CONSIDER THE IMPACT OF A DOUBLE-DIGIT TAX INCREASE ON FAMILY BUDGETS AT THIS CHALLENGING FINANCIAL TIME for many in our community.
Fully consider..INCREASES THAT ARE ESSENTIAL to critical infrastructure and the health and safety of the community VERSUS those that ARE SIMPLY NICE TO HAVE, with a committed focus on keeping the tax increase well below double digits.

The proposed residential property tax hike is another example of the County being out of touch with reality - which is evident by the illustration used to sell their agenda. A median home value of $383k to illustrate the tax increase is deceptive and disingenuous. The irony is it was illustrated under the guise of transparency. If you lived in the County, you’d appreciate how ridiculous that illustration was.

Have efficiencies been identified with current spending or waste eliminated from current spending before introducing such a significant tax increase? It seems as if the easy road was taken by spiking taxes to help fund the new library no one wants (especially when everything is moving to digital) or to fund the increase in the mayor, councillors and county staff wages. It doesn’t appear the county is really trying to make life more affordable for residents. Stop the reckless spending and focus on the needs of the community by exhausting all available ways to use current funds - especially given the increased tax revenue from newcomers to the county. The excuse that the increase in tax revenue from newcomers is offset by an increase in services only goes so far. The primary focus should be on the needs of residents in the county - otherwise we need a change in office and a concerted effort to elect county representatives that are in tune with the day to day life of residents in the region.

How does Brant County justify a Municipal Property Increase from 2023 at 5.8% and now 2024 10.5% that will negatively affect every property owner?
As per Brant County - The majority of 2024 tax levy budget drivers reflect decisions that have ALREADY BEEN MADE by Council, through signed agreements, new debt issued for previous years’ projects, annualizing 2023 budget initiatives, direction provided for the 2024 budget and decisions made mid-year ($6,876,893 or 10.1% increase in net levy).

2023 - They Mayor took a 13% wage increase, 2024 ?
and
2024 budget for CAO salary budgeted increase of 19.8% ?

23 NEW decision packages (16 personnel & equipment needs and 7 additional ? total worth $2 Million)

- How about adding PERSONNEL that could directly replace some of the Contracted Services budgeted for 2024 for over $20 Million ?

Affordability Concerns:
- a tax increase will place an additional financial burden on homeowners, particularly those on fixed incomes or those already struggling with the cost of living and increased mortgage rates.

Efficient Use of Current Taxes:
- Can we focus on using current tax revenues more efficiently before considering tax increases. (materials & supplies, Corporate Strategy budget 53.6% increase, Public Transportation 151.3% increase)

Economic Impact:
- Concern about the potential negative impact on the local economy, as higher taxes could discourage people from buying homes in this area.

Need for Transparency:
- Transparency about how the additional tax revenue will be used. It is not clear that the funds will be used for necessary and beneficial projects for Brant County as a whole, Therefore respectfully, we oppose the almost doubled tax increase from 2023 (5.8% to 10.5%)

Alternative Solutions:
- Suggesting to explore alternative solutions to raise funds (provincial, federal, large corporation sponsorship ? OR cut costs, rather than defaulting to tax increases.

Engagebrant.ca website - established to "hear" needs of residents...? Then please "listen" to answers, surveys, ideas, petitions ...

1) Art/Culture/Hertige - survey ended Sept/23 - 2 ideas from residents and only 19 votes on 1 question in quick poll - questions 2,3,4 that pertained directly to art/culture and heritage needs remained unanswered, 0 votes (but Brant County still went ahead with Plan to FUND $$$ )

2) Transportation Master Plan Survey 2021 - Outside consultant hired $$$, only 83 predetermined members of the public were invited. Then questions and answers were not relevant to conclusion and then Brant County went ahead with an outcome, without public consultations of affected residents and approved 5 year budgets ...that were not used as approved...

3) Brant Transit survey - 140 responses - 11 questions with no option of N/A or OTHER. Question #6 - How frequently do you use Brant Transit? 34.3% or 48 people of 140 responded NEVER, and 32.9% or 46 people of 140 responded less than once a week. So, how did Brant County conclude that an investment to VIA starting Jan2/24 at a cost of $851,721 for 2024 would be a good proposal for everyone ? (after Brant received negative public feedback above, where is the public engagement stats and areas of Brant that stated the needs and requirements ?)

4) NEW Main Branch Library & Opera House with 37 parking spots, but 150 person capacity in hall, Survey Closed Feb/23 (results NOT published, but project went ahead for $2 Million plus..., where is the public feedback and requirement for such a large investment in these unsure times and when so many things are going digital ?)

5) Burford Water/Wastewater Servicing & Drainage (Survey Dec/22 closed). 29 negative comments online as well as 77 surveys completed that were "not supportive of proposed growth & plan", but Brant County jumped to conclusion of "after 3 years, still moving forward with New Official Plan? and people want "complete & walkable Communities ? )

County REVENUES ...
- we have a HUGE increase in housing in Paris, but we barely saw a growth in Property Tax revenue ?
- New Fee passed for 2024 RPT-0512-23 $5000 additional "subdivision & Registration Clearance Submission Fee x 34 Subdivisions still unassumed = $170,000 additional revenue ?
- Development Services (Building fees, charges, permits?)
- Community Services (Advertising, community center rentals, ice time rentals (at full capacity, as per last Dec.23 Council Meeting))
- Concession stands within Arenas all losing money ?

Conclusion:
Prior to County Staff wish lists or consultants for the consultants or an assistant to the assistant or beautification (flowers, new gardens, then a new salaried position to do the upkeep),
please consider NEEDS AND REQUIREMENTS first ...

An FYI,
Brant County stated residential homes (2024 median is $383,000 ??
However, real estate flyer that just came in states median sale price in Brant County for 2023 was $795,000)
And of the over 5,500 houses for sale on realtor.ca,
ONLY 7 were under $400,000

Thank you.
Andrea

The current library in Paris is great. There is more parking now too.

Could water and money be saved by not maintaining passive use green spaces as lawn? Could the County work with NGOs to turn these spaces and boulevards into pollinator friendly habitat? Native plants should be planted that are drought hardy. Native planting can reduce invasive species. Our insects and birds are in decline. Creating more wildlife habitat would be simply grand, for residents and visitors too.

Using potable water for lawns is not right. How can this be managed? Water is money too.

Thank you for your consideration.

Councillor Bell said it correct “Is it a want or a need”. We don’t need a new library that services Paris and is going to be over budget. Now is not the time to take on debt for the next 25 years.

Good morning, first of all a 10.5% tax hike is ridiculous and unacceptable. Our municipal government needs to learn to live within its means. It seems like every level of government these days is overburdened with bureaucracy and Brant County is going down the same rabbit hole. For one I really don't think that council needs a vote counter for the price of $40,000 and for that matter the addition of, I believe, 6 more positions at a cost of nearly $400,000. You state that growth is a factor in the tax hike. Shouldn't growth fund itself and actually benefit the county instead of being a burden? You also use figures such as $134,146 as being the average household income. Well that might be, but what about the seniors that have worked all their lives and now are on a fixed income of around $15,000/yr giving their household income a total of around $30,000. So property taxes may only amount to 3% of $134,000 but a huge 13% of a pensioners income. With grocery inflation and the rising cost of everything how much pressure do you intend to instill on our seniors to alleviate your own? Living in the Harley area each property owner is going to be billed for farm drainage cleanout. We have no idea how much that will amount to. It seems funny to me that we all contribute in some way to see that surface water in Paris is disposed of with expensive underground tiles, but all important drainage ditches which are necessary for food production have to be funded independently by property owners on top of their property taxes. Another question is why do you have an increase in road salt when all indications point to the need for less? For all those residents crying for more of this and more of that, you are part of the problem also. We have been relatively content with the way of life here in Brant County for many many years, we don't need big city mentality driving up our taxes. Salary hikes and benefits is another area. Maybe let us know how much the average salary and benefit raise is per employee. We have to remember that for every new position created we will be on the hook for the same annual increases for them too. I think the county is on the wrong track with this budget and probably no amount of public input will change the outcome. I can only hope that the ballot box will reflect our feelings.

Scrap the idea of renovating the Bawcutt centre! Not needed at this time.

Prioritize bishopgate interchange. Pound the table on that one.

Water and wastewater servicing for Burford/Scotland/Oakland. Paris cannot be the only growth area in the County

Tax increase on farm land.

This county seems to talk one way and deliver another. While we are investing in upgrading significantly overdue infrastructure, the idea to spend 40 million on a new library is assinine. Why did you invest in an "ai" sensor downtown which never tunes the traffic patterns? Way to go on deferring tigercat cosfs and they lay people off to prepare for a company sale.

Focus on infrastructure and completing jobs instead of finding more ways to waste tax money.

Increases are not justified

Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback and for this well-formulated public budget presentation/feedback site. Well done!

I would strongly encourage this council to consider the impact of a double-digit tax increase on family budgets at this challenging financial time for many in our community.

Reviewing the ideas presented on this excellent site shows many beneficial programs and planned improvements.

I think the task ratepayers would most like this council to fully consider is deciding between those proposed budget increases that are essential to critical infrastructure and the health and safety of the community versus those that are simply nice to have, with a committed focus on keeping the tax increase well below double digits.

Moreover, in a corporation with 800+ employees, there is most certainly room for savings in parts of the budget presented that may make room for spending in others.

Thank you for your consideration.

Can the idea of renovating the Bawcutt centre. 18 million is not needed on this building. Give the donation back and keep the existing library. The project will go over budget and there is not enough parking and people won’t park downtown and walk up to the centre.

I am furious with the 10+% tax increase. All the growth in Paris where a million houses have been built in both ends bursting this town. With all the additional taxes you are collecting you you still want more. Disgusting! The residents who have been here for years put up with the horrendous amount of traffic speed bumps downtown that pedestrian expect us to stop at and them cross and back up the traffic more. It might help if you lower the signs that states pedestrians don’t have the right away. No one police’s downtown people make uturns into parking spots turn left where they are not suppose to pay some by law officers and make money from the tickets that should be handed out. It is sad to see Paris become a free for all with extravagant growth and it appears no way to deal with it other than raise the taxes

If you can't keep tax increases at a reasonable rate 2-4%, you screwed up and you need to cut things. Regardless of what you'd like to do if you can get it done with what you have then you can't afford to do it. 10% is completely outrageous and you all should be fired (and you will be when it's time to vote)

If you can't keep tax increases at a reasonable rate 2-4%, you screwed up and you need to cut things. Regardless of what you'd like to do if you can get it done with what you have then you can't afford to do it. 10% is completely outrageous and you all should be fired (and you will be when it's time to vote)

Council should reconsider the massive property tax increase that they are considering for 2024 - families and businesses are struggling with day to day expenses. The cost of everything has increased dramatically causing hardship for many. Please think of the taxpayers of Brant County & the extra burden this will cause.

Any tax increase above the rate of inflation is totally unacceptable and shows a total lack of responsibility on the part of this council.

Under no circumstances should any tax increase be more than the rate of inflation. Council is being totally irresponsible by entertaining any increase above inflation.

Thank you to the Mayor and Councillors for their hard work on the financial plan and all the challenges facing the county. Please continue to support the plan for the new library- a brilliant plan to preserve and renew a heritage building that is important not only in this area but also to heritage architecture in all of Canada.as the oldest gothic building in Canada that is not a church 🇨🇦 Working toward green bins collection will also help us to keep pace with our neighbours and work towards a more sustainable environment. Congratulations also on the Trillium housing project. We need more of its kind whenever possible. Keep up the good work!

After a 5.8% property tax hike in 2023, now is the time to look at ways to cut costs - not burden residents any further with additional hikes. Homeowners are already feeling the burden of higher interest rates and all Canadian's are struggling to cope with rising costs due to inflation. New libraries, arenas and the like are nice to haves - now is not the time for the cost of these expenditures to be passed onto our residents.

Given the extreme financial strain many residents are currently facing, with rising costs relating to high interest rates, inflation and higher taxes across the board, many families are being force to cut their own household spending. I believe the County of Brant should closely examine the proposed budget and look to greatly reduce spending in order to limit the proposed tax increase which will have a very negative impact on many residents.