The Reeve of Howick Township says the number they're looking at right now will change before the budget is finalized, but it's still going to be significantly higher than last year.
Art Versteeg explains the increase currently stands at 27 per cent and he points directly to reductions in Ontario Municipal Partnership Funding and the new OPP billing model for that increase.
Versteeg adds Howick is being hit hard because it's largely rural in make-up, where municipalities with a more balanced composition of urban and rural won't struggle as much.
Under the formula for provincial infrastructure grants, Howick will get $25,000 this year, which he says won't do much for infrastructure.
Versteeg adds this is not a one-time situation but will continue for several years, so anything that gets done in Howick will have to be funded through property taxes.
