Puslinch Today

At the January 27th Council meeting, Wellington County Council adopted its 2022 budget with a 2.0% increase to the County portion of property taxes to focus on core services.

“Today, County Council passed a responsible budget of service enhancements and investment for 2022,” said Warden Kelly Linton. “The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a series of challenging circumstances for all of the County’s communities, and has changed how we provide services to our residents. This budget will continue to focus on enhancing core services across all of our communities, while also making important investments in infrastructure, health care, transportation, social services, and climate change.”

Highlights of the 2022 Budget include:

• Significant investment in roads capital infrastructure and public works facilities over the next ten years, including a $41.2 million investment in facility upgrades that accounts for the replacement of the Arthur Public Works Facility in 2022, and updates to the Erin, Brucedale, Harriston, and Aberfoyle public works facilities throughout the forecast.
• Continuation of Rural Broadband investment to complete the gigabyte fibre optic buildout. A municipal contribution of $4.0 million over five years, which began in 2021 and will continue from 2022-2025.
• Property acquisition and design for the construction of a new Erin Library Branch.
• Implementation of the Climate Change Mitigation Plan for the County of Wellington.
• Land Ambulance service expansion that will add a new 12-hour shift to improve response times across Wellington County.
• Affordable housing property acquisition for future development to assist with meeting community needs.
• Enhanced direct care hours at the Wellington Terrace Long-Term Care Home, as supported by a significant provincial funding contribution.
• Waste Management enhancements including improvements to the Elora and Rothsay Transfer Station sites and two additional weeks of leaf and yard waste collection in the fall.

“Staff and Council have taken great care to build a responsible and sustainable financial plan during these difficult times,” commented Chris White, Chair of the County’s Administration, Finance and Human Resources Committee. “This budget will help serve our communities in the long-term, and help ensure that we maintain our services and infrastructure for our residents.”