Written By Jan Sims
MIDDLESEX CENTRE - Middlesex Centre is inviting residents to have their say in the 2025 municipal budget. Until August 25th, people are invited to take a survey posted on the municipal website. Results will be taken to council and posted on the budget webpage towards the end of September.
The survey is part of the process leading up to the creation of the budget in the fall which includes capital and operating expenses.
The 2024 budget came in at just under $79 million in total. Operating expenses accounted for $49.72 million, with capital costs at $30.57 million. That meant an average increase of $83 in the municipal portion of the tax bill for a residential property assessed at $400,000.
This year’s survey asks a number of questions. They include overall satisfaction with how municipal tax dollars are spent, and how satisfied people are with the delivery of services. The survey allows people to write their thoughts. One question asks: “If the municipality ‘won the lottery’ and received $250,000 in extra funds that could go to any municipal program or service, what would you put it towards?”
A similar survey was conducted last year prior to the 2024 budget being approved. That survey drew 305 responses. It suggested a dip in the approval rating from the previous year with 86% of respondents rating the overall value they received for their municipal tax dollars as fair, good or excellent, compared to 91% the previous year.
The 2024 survey also delves into the area of balancing taxes and services, asking for a preference to decrease taxes, increase services even if it means a tax increase, or maintaining taxes at the current rate even if it impacts services.
