Brandonites are that much closer to having a clear picture of what their next property tax bill will look like with news on Saturday evening that City Council has completed its 2020 budget deliberations and approved a 2020 budget that will result in an average municipal tax increase of 0.47%.
An initially proposed budget in early January proposed an increase of 2.97%. Beginning Saturday morning and throughout the course of the day, City Council would review, discuss and decide on a wide assortment of nearly 70 budgetary amendments in reducing the net spending increase. A more detailed list of specific items addressed is included in a Saturday evening press release issued by the city.
The 0.47% municipal tax number is an average, with the actual amount paid by any given property being dependent on that property's 2020 assessment value. 2019's increase had been an average of 1.17%.
Having been approved by council, the 2020 municipal budget will next be the subject of a public hearing in the spring.
The end property tax bill paid by residents also includes a Brandon School Division portion. The Division has scheduled its 2020-2021 Budget Presentation for Thursday, February 13th with a Public Consultation to follow on the 20th.