MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 22, 2023

Town of Smiths Falls 2023 Budget

Smiths Falls, ON -The Town of Smiths Falls 2023 budget was approved by Council on February 21st.The budget makes balanced investments to provide essential services and community programming while ensuring municipal assets and infrastructure are properly managed.

The capital budget landed at a value of $18,464,248 after Council deferred $2.17M in proposed capital spending. Gross operational expenditures total $29,872,540. As part of budget 2023, there are increases to water and wastewater rates of 5.5% and 3.6% respectively effective January 1^st 2023. The property tax rates will be adjusted by 3.38%.

“In preparing the budget, Council did an in-depth review of all departments and spending areas and carefully considered the priorities for the coming year. It was not an easy decision to increase property tax and utility rates, but Smiths Falls is no different from other municipalities, with the rising costs, supply chain issues and inflation, it is costing municipalities more to provide services and programs to residents”, said Mayor Shawn Pankow. “This decision was necessary in order to continue providing residents with the services and programs they need and deserve”.

Budget 2023 makes investments in all areas of Town operations and includes:

• Funding to install the new water tower.
• Allocation for the reconstruction of Catherine Street.
• Funding for the Confederation Drive River crossing.
• Allocation for Police Annual Vehicle Replacement.
• Allocation for Airport runway crack sealing.
• Fire equipment including self contained breathing apparatus, a new radio system, water rescue equipment, Next Generation 911 upgrade, hoses/nozzles.
• Parks investments including replacement mowers, playground equipment.
• expansion of the urban forest, Christmas light displays.
• Library renovations.
• Centre Street Revitalization Plan.
• Community facility upgrades.
• Replacement of end-of-life snow plowing equipment in Public Works.

For more details on budget allocation, please view the final budget on the Town’s website. Now that the 2023 budget is approved, operating and capital plans will move forward within the financial parameters approved by Council.

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Media Contact

Esther Njuguna

Communications and Marketing Coordinator

Town of Smiths Falls

enjuguna@smithsfalls.ca

613-283-4124 Ext. 1137