The average LaSalle household will see their property taxes increase by nearly $150 next year.
The Town of Lasalle's 3.47 per cent budget increase makes up around $110 of that increase.
That number was settled on after two days of budget deliberations last week. Council eliminated $1,264,000 from the proposed budget throughout deliberations. That includes the elimination of $250,000 for asset management planning and $450,000 for new staffing positions.
"I cannot support what has been put in front of us," said Mayor Crystal Meloche about the cuts presented. "We are just putting ourselves in a terrible position if we start getting rid of our asset management dollars and our investments in our future. It's not proper planning and it's not what we've done in the Town of LaSalle."
The majority of council felt the decreases will help to reduce the overall budget impact on the average resident.
"We need to pause things, slow some stuff down. This is not the end of the world to me, it just buys us some time and come the next election there needs to be a rethink of what we think priorities are," said Councillor Mark Carrick.
The 2026 budget includes increases of $1 million for policing costs, $447,500 for enhancements and $2.18 million for inflationary/contractual changes.
The budget was approved in principle. The final tax rate will be determined once the County of Essex finalizes its budget.
