Tax Increase Proposed in Kingsvilles Draft Budget

Kingsville residents can expect a slight tax increase in 2020.

The town has released its 2020 draft budget which calls for a 1.9% increase.

Mayor Nelson Santos believes the jump is a good starting point for council to work with.

"It's certainly respectful in terms of when you're looking at inflation rates across the region," he says. "It's an ask that raises about $350,000 more in the tax bill for us year-over-year."

Santos says the budget includes many capital works projects including preparations in and around the site of a new $44-million dollar elementary and secondary school.

"We want to make sure the resources and infrastructure is in place that provides everything from sanitary and storm water protection, services and water services right to the broadband that they'll seek to have a good innovative and high tech school facility ready," he says.

Santos points out there is plenty of growth in Kingsville and the council wants to see it continue.

"Everything that we're doing now today, not only addresses what's happening and what's coming up and being built up, but we're also having an eye for the future for increased capacity and potential expansion plans that are being captured through our development charges," he says. "So even the building that's happening today we're collecting funds that are going into reserves to help build the infrastructure we need to accommodate the growth."

Budget deliberations take place on January 16th and January 29th.