March 28, 2012

Lennox & Addington County Council Approves 2012 Budget

On March 28, 2012, Lennox and Addington County Council approved a 2012 budget totalling $63.8 million to provide a broad range of services, which are described in more detail in the attached 2012 Budget Summary & Highlights.

$21.1 million of the total budget is raised through property taxation.  The County’s 2012 property tax levy will increase by 2.0% or $413,000 from 2011, after allowing for assessment increases due to new development and growth.

The average residential property assessment in the County of Lennox and Addington in 2012 is $203,000 (2011 - $190,000). The County portion of the property taxes on this assessment in 2012 is $1,019 (an increase of $35 from 2011).

Due to an overall assessment value increase of 5.4%, County tax rates will decrease by 3.2% in 2012.

Some of the highlights of the 2012 budget include:

• $7.2 million for capital improvements to Roads and Bridges, including $3.6 million for paving projects on several arterial routes.
• $2.3 million to complete the construction of a new Social Services office building  at 95 Advance Avenue in Napanee, consolidating the four Social Services offices within Napanee at one location.
• $2.5 million for the first phase of a $5 million construction and renovation project at the Museum & Archives.
• $1.3 million for land ambulance capital including the purchase of an ambulance and an emergency response vehicle and the construction of a new ambulance base in the Northbrook/Cloyne area.
• $157,000 for the County’s 2012 share of the $170 million Eastern Ontario Regional Network broadband project which will improve high speed internet access when the project is complete by 2014.
• $175,000 for the County’s multi-year capital commitment to Community Health Care projects at the Pine Meadow Nursing Home in Northbrook, the Lennox and Addington County General Hospital and the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation.

“County Council is committed to minimizing property tax increases while providing efficient service delivery and investing in infrastructure.” stated Warden Bill Lowry. “The 2012 budget achieves a good balance.” he added.

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For more information please contact:

Bill Lowry      
Warden      
613.354.4883       

Larry Keech
Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk
613.354.4883