Penetanguishene Council Approves 2025 Budget
On December 11, 2024, Penetanguishene Council approved the 2025 operating and capital budgets and the 2026 capital budget totaling $29.5 million ($16 million operating & $13.5 million capital). Town staff worked closely with Council to provide opportunities for public input and developed a budget that maintained or enhanced service levels, focused on key areas such as roads and fire services that the public and Council identified as priorities. After much hard work, the approved budget resulted in an increase of 4.5% or $600,000 to the municipal tax levy (2% Operating; 1% Capital and 1.5% Policing).
Finance & Corporate Services Chair, Councillor Suzanne Marchand stated “I am extremely pleased with the 2025 budget process. Important financial decisions were made by Council that will maintain and enhance core municipal services for residents, continue to invest in infrastructure, reduce debt and support staff. I look forward to another year of great accomplishments.”
Some notable capital projects to be completed in 2025 & 2026 include:
- Intersection Upgrades (Robert E & Fuller)
- Expansion of Roads Division Garage/Wash Bay
- Intersection Engineering & Design (Dufferin/Burke/Robert E)
- Fox St Sanitary Sewer Re-Lining (Yeo to Broad)
- Robert St W Well Upgrades
- Trunk Line Replacement Engineering (Church to Fox)
- North Wharf Engineering & Repair
- Reconstruction of Peel (Robert E to Brock)
- Asphalt Resurfacing Brunelle Sideroad
- Transit Bus Replacement
- Memorial Park Concept Engineering & Design
Council approved a $16 mil total operating budget that includes $2.2 mil for Policing and $4.9 mil for the Water, Wastewater, Building and Wharf rate-supported departments. Upgrading equipment, technology, online services, transit and road maintenance continues to be a priority. Free transit for seniors, free public skating and a recreation subsidy program for low-income families continue in 2025.
The overall tax impact estimate is 3.9% or $61.24 per 100,000 of residential property assessment. When the County and Provincial tax rates are received, the Town will finalize the 2025 tax rates to support the budget. $14.1 mil of the Town’s 2025 Operating and Capital Budget and the Policing budget comes from property taxes, with the remainder of the total 2025 budget of $10.6 mil from other revenues and funding streams. All budget information can be found on connectpenetanguishene.ca.
“Council approved a $29.5 mil budget for 2025 operating and capital and for 2026 capital investments. This will allow us to continue to deliver a high level of service that our residents deserve and to focus on priorities within the Town’s Community-Based Strategic Plan. We certainly appreciate the community’s involvement, and the input received during the budget process. Ongoing communication with our residents and making them feel heard is definitely a priority of this Council,” said Mayor Doug Rawson.