The Township of Whitewater Region is looking to adopt a budget reflecting a 2.5% increase to the tax levy. Treasurer and Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Sean Crozier led the online meeting last night (December 9th), with council expected to pass the budget next week. Whitewater Region plans to spend roughly $5.5-million on infrastructure in 2021 and an additional $210,000 on other projects that support businesses and new growth.
The average residential homeowner in Whitewater Region is expected to pay roughly $80 more for water and $330 more for wastewater in 2021. Crozier told members of council a tax rate will likely be set in May or June of 2021.
The Treasurer says a 2.5% levy increase correlates to $199,346.99 of tax dollars to fund capital and special projects, meaning that the remaining $5,336,644 will be funded through the use of reserves, grant funding, and new debt.
Crozier says only 42 cents (42%) of every tax dollar collected is used on municipal services. He adds 10 cents on the dollar goes to the OPP for policing, 31 cents to the county and the remainder to the school boards.
Residential homeowners or small commercial business in Whitewater Region will pay about $80 more in 2021 for water. These users will pay an extra $6.70 per month for water. Multi-residential users will see an increase of $5.37 a month, medium commercial will pay an additional $10.15 a month and high commercial water users will see an extra $13.51 on their bill each month. The township treasurer says there’s 1,061 water users in Whitewater Region and 90% are residential or multi-residential.
WATER COMPARISON FOR WHITEWATER REGION
Residential homeowners or small commercial business in Whitewater Region will pay an extra $331 a year for wastewater services. It’s worth noting this amount represents half of the recommended rate increase from the Water/Wastewater study. Residential and small commercial wastewater users are expected to pay an extra $27.63 a month. Multi-residential users will pay an additional $22.11 a month, medium commercial will see an extra charge of $41.45 a month and high commercial will pay $55.27 more each month (roughly $663 a year) for wastewater.
WASTEWATER COMPARISON FOR WHITEWATER REGION
Garbage and recycling collection fees are not expected to change in 021 and will remain at $156 annually for homes and businesses. 
You can watch the budget meeting online here. The report presented to council on December 9th, 2020 can be found online here.