Last night, Town of Bracebridge Council approved the 2023 municipal budget and business plan focused on continued recovery and growth, maintaining service, and supporting the health and vitality of the community. The budget supports significant long-range projects while keeping the 4.5% tax rate increase below current record inflation levels.
Based on a $300,000 residential assessment, the 4.5% tax rate amounts to an increase of $62 per household or about 17 cents per day for the delivery and support of essential services including the maintenance of trails and parks, snow removal, fire services, recreational programming and more that the community relies on. The Town of Bracebridge is focused on maintaining essential service delivery while planning for future growth and opportunity.
The 2023 budget also includes contributions to initiatives that will support community wellness for decades to come including the continued construction of the generational Muskoka Lumber Community Centre and ongoing support for the Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare’s hospital capital planning process. The Town also continues to invest in reserve funds to support a fiscally responsible future.
Significant highlights of the 2023 budget:
- $33.4 million to support the development of the Muskoka Lumber Community Centre, to be funded by debentures, reserves and provincial grants;
- $230,000 in contributions to a dedicated reserve that will support the Town’s future investment in the construction of new hospitals in Bracebridge and Huntsville;
- $3 million towards the annual road improvement program;
- $1.6 million to fund infrastructure investments including several large bridge and culvert projects, funded in part by provincial grants; and
- $1.3 million in capital investments to support the Town’s natural landscape and large network of parks and trails, including improvements to Bracebridge Bay Wharf and pathway, funded in part by provincial grants.
Each year, the Town of Bracebridge’s budget identifies priorities, goals and initiatives that support the community. Through extensive preparation, staff deliver recommendations that support these priorities but are also respective of residents and the current economic impacts.
“The Town of Bracebridge is committed to strengthening our community. This budget supports the services our town relies on for development, infrastructure and public safety, while also contributing to the resources that will support our future. The Muskoka Lumber Community Centre and new hospital are both generational projects that will provide residents with the vital health resources needed to thrive for decades to come.”
– Rick Maloney, Mayor, Town of Bracebridge
