Sarnia council's draft 2025 budget increased to $184.25 million following deliberations on Tuesday, but the proposed property tax hike was trimmed to 4.42 per cent.
That represents a nearly $46 increase per $100,000 of residential assessment for homeowners within the transit levy area, and a $42 increase for those outside the transit levy area.
The general levy increase does not include county and education taxes.
City of Sarnia Communications Manager Steve Henschel said several council directions added revenues into the budget, offsetting the amount to be raised through taxes.
Staff had previously highlighted decreases in 2025 insurance premiums and other funding changes that council accepted.
Among the major capital projects, $3.5 million for Progressive Auto Sales Arena improvements were approved.
A request for nearly $2.7 million for improvements to the Bright's Grove Library was reduced to a $2 million commitment.
Council endorsed $1.4 million for Clearwater Arena improvements and almost $1.39 million for new park/playground and sports equipment.
A proposed plan for the Victims of Chemical Valley Memorial was referred back to staff.
A $245,000 funding request for the Sarnia Library exterior enhancement project was rejected.
Council decided to fund a $15,000 tree giveaway, $75,000 for a Mitton Village and downtown community improvement program, and spend $150,000 to purchase new playground equipment for Queen Park from reserves, and other funding sources, so the levy wasn't impacted.
A request from Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services (OAHS) to have development charge fees waived on a portion of its affordable housing build, under construction near Confederation Street and Indian Road, was received and filed.
Councillors approved just over $185,000 in funding to hire an ecologist to manage public park land and a $2,600 grant request from Bluewater Cycling was approved.
An $80,000 grant for Blue Coast Primary Care - Recruitment & Retention, was approved for four years when the 2023 budget was set.
While discussing the operating budget, Councillor Terry Burrell asked for funding reductions in several departments, but his requests were unsuccessful.
Burrell said he couldn't support transferring over $4.6 million from reserves to support current operations.
"To me, that is a very, very, bad thing to do," Burrell said. "That is not a sustainable number. It's robbing your piggy bank to make your daily payments."
"When you build into your budgets using reserves... it's a suicide run and I can not support this budget as it's laid out," he added.
Sarnia Police Chief Derek Davis and Sarnia Police Services Board Chair Paul Wiersma defended their $36.7 million draft 2025 budget, which proposed an increase over 10 per cent.
"Police services are largely driven by a budget for human resources for staffing, that's a big component," Davis said. "We are an association driven organization, a union organization, so collective bargaining agreements are a significant driver of salary costs."
Davis also reminded councillors they've been doing "a lot of catch up" in previous years to bring equipment, training, and other things up to meet new regulations.
"Over the past couple of years, post COVID, I think we've all seen a dramatic rise in workload -- which is a major cost driver -- courts have done significant changes in the way they process disclosure -- and the requirements on police to front load disclosure -- which has greatly increased administrative burdens," he added.
Under provincial rules, motions to approve the overall budget are no longer required.
After changes were made to the draft, council voted in favour of terminating the 30-day budget amendment period to accelerate the budget's adoption.
"Following that, the mayor may veto a resolution passed by council within the next ten days," Clerk Amy Burkhart explained at the beginning of the session.
"After that, council may override a veto with a two thirds vote of council and while not technically considered to be part of the budget... bylaws to establish water rates, sewer charges and fees for services are also included on today's agenda as they are used to inform the budget estimates," she added.
Before the meeting -- held virtually -- adjourned, Mayor Mike Bradley thanked the remaining councillors for their cooperation.
"You showed how it's supposed to be done, with integrity and respect for your fellow members and for the staff members. So, that is deeply appreciated," Bradley said.
Bradley expelled a member of council about 90 minutes into the meeting, which was "a first" he said, in his 36 years as mayor.
City/County Councillor Bill Dennis derailed discussions with a lengthy rant that included insults and vulgarity.
Dennis remained absent for the remainder of the meeting.