LaSalle Approves 2020 Budget in Principle
LaSalle Council has approved a 0% Municipal Tax Rate increase in principle as presented by administration. The Budget Session took place on December 18. The 2020 Budget By-law will be presented at a Regular Meeting of Council in January.
“We have a good Council and a good leadership. We are ‘Team LaSalle’. I know that the budgeting process does not come easy,” said Mayor Marc Bondy. “Council and administration are all on the same page when it comes to the budget.”
The Town of LaSalle’s administration recommended a 0% Municipal Tax Rate increase in the 2020 Budget. The budget requires a $2.3M levy increase over the 2019 Municipal Budget, bringing the general levy to $36.7M. Those funds are being accounted for through an increase of $0.9M in new construction, and an additional $1.4M from phased in re-assessment on existing properties. The approved budget allows the Town to continue to invest in service level increases such as those identified in the Fire Master Plan and other ongoing Master Plans, as well as investing in long-term capital infrastructure of the Town.
“Growth is important to keep tax rates affordable. The growth in LaSalle over the last five years has allowed the Town to keep tax rate increases low or at zero.” – Dale Langlois, Director of Finance/Treasurer
An estimated 93% of the tax base in LaSalle is from Residential Taxes. Growth in LaSalle through new development has allowed the Town to set the tax rate change at less than 1% for four consecutive years, including 0% for 2019 and 2020. For every tax dollar billed in LaSalle, about 60% or 60 cents stays in LaSalle, 30% is transferred to the County of Essex and 10% is transferred for education. LaSalle continues to be in the middle of the pack when tax rates are compared across Essex County.
Even with a 0% Municipal Tax Rate increase, most residential tax payers in LaSalle may see an increase in their 2020 taxes as a result of the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) reassessment. MPAC’s assessed value of individual properties was done is 2016 and took effect in 2017, and that increase is phased in over a four year period (2020 is the last year for this cycle of reassessment). MPAC will be reassessing property values in 2020 and that will start a new four-year cycle in 2021. For more information about the MPAC.
At the Budget Session, each department presented their proposed budget, along with their goals and objectives for the coming year. The goals and objectives are tied to LaSalle’s Corporate Strategic Plan, and are often developed based on feedback from the community and members of Council throughout the year.
