By Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Residents of East Zorra-Tavistock (EZT) will see a 6.95 per cent increase on the township portion of their tax bills in 2025.
The budget passed unanimously at the March 19 meeting with no discussion by members of council. A total of just over $8.4 million will be levied by the township from taxpayers this year, an increase over last year’s $7.7-million levy by nearly $641,000 or 8.25 per cent. However, EZT saw 1.29 per cent, or more than $100,500, in growth to the township’s assessment base in 2024, leaving the actual tax increase at 6.95 per cent.
This translates into an additional $153.11 per year or $12.76 per month on the average property assessed at $400,000.
Among the major expenditures is the reconstruction of a bridge on the 13th Line, a project with a price tag of $2.4 million. The township applied for a grant through the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program (MHIP) but was unsuccessful.
“Following an evidence-based provincial review process, your project was not approved for funding. The … intake was highly competitive and demand for funding exceeded available resources. Projects that were approved were those that most closely aligned with provincial assessment criteria and requirements,” said a letter by Trevor Fleck from the province’s Ministry of Infrastructure.
“The provincial assessment criteria included reviewing projects based on housing outcomes, project readiness, the technical merit of the proposed project, financial capacity and efficiencies through joint projects.”
The reconstruction of William Street North in Tavistock is another big-ticket item, coming in at just under $1.3 million, but it is a cost-sharing project with Oxford County. Another $625,000 will pay for a new pumper truck at the Innerkip Fire Station while $225,000 has been allocated for engineering and site preparation for a new Hickson Fire Station. That build is currently scheduled to begin in 2026.
“Considering what we are doing with the additional funds, I think a 6.95 per cent tax increase is fair,” said EZT Mayor Phil Schaefer. “Sixty per cent of the increase is going to reserves for fire, roads and bridges, and buildings, including recreation buildings. The rest is basically going to paving at the Tavistock Fire Hall, extra costs for winter patrol and to cover the increase to the police contract. There is no additional (new staff hires) planned in the budget.
“Funding and maintaining reserves is expensive, but not nearly as expensive as not doing it.”
Schaefer added residents can expect to see scheduled 2025 capital projects completed, and he and his fellow elected officials are going to spend the public purse wisely.
“And as far as council is concerned, we will continue to act as prudent stewards of taxpayer’s funds.”
The Gazette reached out to every member of EZT council for their thoughts on the budget. Schaefer was the only one to reply.
Residents saw the EZT portion of the 2024 property tax bill rise by 6.52 per cent while in 2023 there was a 4.49 per-cent increase.
Council briefs
Now that EZT has initiated livestreaming of its regular council meetings, the decision has been made to utilize the technology during Recreation Advisory Committee (RAC) meetings going forward.
“I did follow up by email and in person with each member of council and the RAC to advise that internally staff have been able to address the technology and staffing challenges we were concerned with,” explained EZT CAO Karen DePrest.
“In addition, I had previously polled committee members for availability and timing…to choose a date to conduct our first streamed and recorded meeting should we be able, and the best date for the majority was April 9. This gives enough time for staff to set up the RAC agendas in the streaming software and allows the committee time to give notice about the intention to allow virtual attendance,” she added.
The agenda, when posted, will be available at https://www.ezt.ca/en/township-office/agendas-and-minutes.aspx. The meeting will be held in Hickson at the township building at 7 p.m.
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