Council and township staff were able to finalize and adopt the new 2024 budget at their third and final budget meeting this week.
The final budgets included a long list of amendments that staff and council had worked out and ultimately agreed upon.
The general rate operating budget totals over $62.1 million and includes a township tax levy requirement of over $21.5 million. The service area operating budgets include over $12.3 million for utilities, $6.1 million for the Amherst Island Ferry, and just over $900,000 for Amherstview Transit.
Staff noted the compromises and decisions made in the meetings, and how input from the public helped shape the final draft. The budget meetings took place Jan. 30, Feb. 1 and Feb. 6 in council chambers in Odessa. Members of the public were able to follow and participate in the meetings both in-person or electronically via Zoom.
