On January 26, 2021, Haldimand County Council reviewed and approved the 2021 Rate-Supported Capital and Operating Budget. Otherwise known as the Water & Wastewater Budget, it is an important strategic document that ensures reliable, safe, clean and affordable potable water is available to residents across the County. New water & wastewater rates take effect on February 1, 2021.

This Rate-Supported Budget deals exclusively with water and wastewater treatment initiatives & is funded directly by user rates (with no support from property taxes). With a number of key infrastructure projects on the horizon – including major upgrades to Caledonia’s water and wastewater systems with a significant portion of the costs being covered by development charges – the average residential, combined water & wastewater user will see a slight increase of about .37¢ (0.4%) on their average monthly bill.

Haldimand’s water & wastewater rates remain below the provincial average due to ongoing strategic planning efforts and diligent asset management practices. In the long-term, rates are expected to remain stable due to a comprehensive, long-term infrastructure maintenance/rehabilitation schedule and a projected increase in user growth.

The budget emphasizes that provincial legislation has the ability to significantly impact municipal operations. As such, senior staff will continue to monitor the political environment & lobby against changes that may impact the affordability of water rates in Ontario.

Council will next review the Tax-Supported Operating & Capital Budgets on the following dates:

Tax-Supported Capital Budget: March 4, 2021 & March 5, 2021* (*if required)

Tax-Supported Operating Budget: March 31, 2021 & April 1, 2021* (*if required)

More information about 2021 budget deliberations will be shared closer to the scheduled meeting dates. Due to the ever-changing COVID-19 situation, it has not yet been determined whether the meetings will be hosted in-person or virtually.

More information about County budgets is available at HaldimandCounty.ca/financials.