Georgian Bluffs Council held its first meeting Friday to discuss the 2025 Township budget.
Infrastructure, such as bridge and culvert repairs and road maintenance, is the main focus of the draft budget. Other highlights include maintaining and enhancing community services, moving forward on environmental projects, and inflation.
After a full day of deliberations, council directed staff to prepare a draft budget that maintains a proposed tax rate of 5.14 per cent.
"Staff have developed a fiscally responsible budget that responds to the needs of the community, as shared through the ongoing strategic planning process, through delegations to Council, and by Council themselves," said Chief Administrative Officer Niall Lobley.
Mayor Sue Carleton stated that a well-maintained road network is important for Georgian Bluffs after the hard-surface preservation program budget was more than doubled. Funding increased from the original request of $950,000 to $2 million.
"Investing in this infrastructure is crucial, and Council is committed to prioritizing road and bridge improvements in this year's budget," the mayor said.
Feedback from the public is still encouraged for budget 2025.
The 2025 Budget Survey is still open and can be found here. A public feedback meeting is also scheduled for December 3.
The final budget is expected to be approved in January 2025.
