Lambton County Council approves 2011 budget

Brooke-Alvinston, Dawn-Euphemia, Enniskillen, Lambton County, Lambton Shores, Oil Springs, Petrolia, Plympton-Wyoming, Point Edward, St. Clair, Warwick, Where we live — By JD Booth on March 16, 2011 at 3:57 pm

Lambton County Council has approved the Corporation's 2011 budget that

maintains current service levels, adds funds to reserves and continues to make strides in

reducing debt while delivering a 0% tax increase.

"Even though on average, the assessed value of properties after real growth increased 4.52%

in 2011, the County's tax rate will decrease by the same amount," said Steve Arnold, Lambton

County Warden. "Therefore an average County taxpayer will pay no more County taxes in 2011

than in 2010."

In approving the document, councillors approved two new grants and gave additional funding to an existing agency.

Pathways Health Centre for Children will receive a total of $500,000 over five years for its capital construction project and Harmony for Youth will get a one-time grant of $20,000 to replace a boiler.

However, Tourism Sarnia-Lambton only got a fraction of the increase it requested. Councillors increased TSL's budget by $150,000 to $566, 375. The agency had asked for $700,000; an increase of nearly 170 per cent from last year.

"Council undertook a thorough review of this year's budget and kept in mind the pressures many

households are facing in this economy," said Steve Arnold, Lambton County Warden. "Council

struck a balance between maintaining existing services and programs residents rely on and

enjoy, putting some funds away for a rainy day, and supporting some community organizations

with their capital needs."

Tags: capital budget, government, Harmony for Youth, Lambton County Council, operating budget, Pathways Health Centre for Children, Tourism Sarnia-Lambton