At its budget meeting Sarnia City Council approved a $154.9 million budget for 2020.
The general levy increase is 2.89%, which is down from the original proposed budget levy increase of 3.95%.
The transit levy increase is 5.97%, which is up from the original 5.0% increase.
A proposed special area levy for the industrial area has been cut in half to $500,000.
The total budget amount of $154,938,329 represents an increase of $248,533. This increase has been mitigated by revenue increases totally $998,808.
Council approved the following changes to the draft 2020 budget:
| General Levy | Transit | |
| Expenditures | ||
| Statutory benefits (mostly WSIB) | $130,831 | $8,352 |
| Insurance | $79,542 | $40,609 |
| Insurance reserves | $41,593 | $14,786 |
| Revenue interest reserve allocation | -$257,000 | |
| Police budget (reduction) | -$169,901 | |
| OMPF reserve allocation | $256,133 | |
| Gypsy Moth program | $90,000 | |
| Free Menstrual Products (trial) | $28,600 | |
| St Clair Region Conservation Authority levy increase | $20,588 | |
| Vehicle allowance | $4,400 | |
| Sarnia Library maintenance | -$20,000 | |
| Care-a-Van fuel expenses | -$20,000 | |
| Net expenditure changes | $184,786 | $63,747 |
| Revenues | ||
| Growth taxes | $25,000 | |
| Increase OMPF revenue | $846,145 | |
| Decrease parking revenue | -$2,400 | |
| Bluewater Power dividend increase | $100,000 | |
| Insurance reserve allocation | $3,063 | |
| Net Revenue Changes | $973,808 | $25,000 |
| Net impact: | -$789,022 | $38,747 |
The impact per $100,000 of assessment for a residential property is:
| General Municipal Purposes | $25.00 (2.89%) |
| Transit Area | $3.23 (5.97%) |
| Total Municipal Purposes | $28.23 (3.07%) |
Council also approved a grant request in the amount of $72,366 to the Sarnia Lambton Taskforce on Healthcare Worker Recruitment.
The approved budget will be posted at https://staging.sarnia.ca/2020-budgets/.
The next Regular Council Meeting will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, December 9.