Taxes in Seguin Township could increase significantly next year.
According to chief financial officer Michele Fraser, that’s due to third party levies out of their control.
“We have a lot of budget pressures this year and the recent levy from the OPP has just made it ten times worse,” she said, to council during a Nov. 4 meeting. “We will not be able to make that 3% mandate that we talked about back in August for 2025, mainly because of these third party levies.”
The OPP levy is projected to increase 21.3%, EMS by 3.25%, and the District of Parry Sound Social Services Administration Board (DSSAB) levy by 5 per cent. Combined, that’s a increase of nearly $400 thousand dollars, which equates to a 2.5% tax hike.
Fraser says those levies along with increases to the operating budget and asset management fund has the municipality staring down a 7% tax rate hike.
The Township has added its voice to the growing number of municipalities complaining to the province about the drastic increase to the 2025 OPP operating budget.
A letter from the Town of Wasaga Beach, included in the Nov. 4 Seguin Township council agenda, stated that they are facing a 22.8% ($1.3 million) increase to their policing budget.
The Town of Midland was recently given notice of a impending 26% ($1 million) increase to their OPP levy.
Municipalities all across Ontario have reached out to the province for relief, requesting the OPP levy be reduced or financial assistance be provided.
A preliminary draft budget will be presented to Seguin council on Nov. 19.
