By Jeff Helsdon
LJI Reporter
Tillsonburg council passed its budget at the Jan. 27 meeting with a 4.78 per cent increase.
The budget started with a 13.69 per cent increase, and was whittled down after council sent it back to staff with instructions to lower the increase. Part of the reason for the huge increase was impacts of a court-ordered retroactive settlement with the OPP, but the province since then announced it would absorb most of this cost. The increase will equate to a $143.74 increase in taxes on a median residence value of $242,000. The 2025 total town budget of $42.7 million is comprised of an operating budget of $31.7 million and a capital budget of $11 million.
Deputy Mayor Dave Beres asked if the reserves were being depleted too much with this budget, as some of the costs were funded from reserves instead of the tax levy. He was told by Director of Finance/Treasurer Renato Pullia that the reserves were $7.1 million at the beginning of 2024, $6.1 million at the end of the year and are predicted to sit at $3.5 million at the end of 2025. The treasurer said this was okay.
Beres made the analogy, “We have a saving account, and at times you have to go to the cupboard and go to the cookie jar and then when we have a good year you put the money back in the cookie jar.”
A motion was made by Coun. Kelly Spencer, and seconded by Coun. Chris Rosehart to add $9,000 to the budget for Turtlefest from the tax rate stabilization reserve. Spencer cited lost sponsorship money and the BIA, which is assisting with the operation of the festival, believing the funding was still there as the reason it is needed this year. She noted costs have been reduced dramatically but there are still expenses.
“It is a signature event in Tillsonburg. Over 30,000 people attended it last year,” she said.
Rosehart asked for a report back on how the money was spent, which was added to the amendment.
Coun. Chris Parker had issues with the addition of an IT position, while only adding one public works worker. He noted there hasn’t been an increase in public works staff since 2020 and there have been a significant number of new roads and sidewalks added since.
“There’s some key components and areas we are adding to, and not adding to, that are going to have an effect on the community,” he said.
Mayor Deb Gilvesy said she spent the entire day going through the budget and supports items like the health care funding and one time Station Arts Centre funding, but doesn’t support depleting the tax rate stabilization reserve. She said adding to the IT department and a director of strategic initiatives comes with a cost. Gilvesy also wanted to see more front-line staff and noted council hasn’t received the final bill for the pool renovation.
“Things have changed drastically since we started this process,” she said, pointing to the possibility of tariffs. “Ontario estimates there could be up to 500,000 job losses which represent up to 6 per cent of the work force.”
Gilvesy said many local companies have contracts with the United States.
The budget was passed with Coun. Bob Parsons, Coun. Pete Luciani, Beres and Spencer voting for it and Gilvesy, Parker and Rosehart voting against it.
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