Heather Wright/The Independent

Plympton-Wyoming taxpayers will pay 2.5 per cent more for their municipal taxes this year.

That after councillors went through the $36.8 million operating and capital budgets drafted by staff. Mayor Gary Atkinson, under the Strong Mayor Act, directed staff to come to council with a three per cent tax increase.

Over two meetings, councillors shaved off another $92,000, lowering the tax impact to 2.5 per cent or about $18.46 for every $100,000 of assessed value of a home.

Council had set an upward limit of $30,000 to provide grants to community agencies. In the end, it gave out just over $20,000. 

One of the casualties in those cuts was the Town of Petrolia whose $10,000 arena grant was cut by $4,600.

It also decided the Howard Watson Trail extension into Camlachie should be done over two years, saving $67,500 this year. 

CAO Adam Sobanski says council used some reserve money to pay for projects planned for this year as well to lessen the impact on taxpayers.

There are still a lot of projects in the works for 2026. Among those, working toward building a new public works yard in Reece’s Corners. “I would suggest the Public Works garage is a few years away.  We are planning to determine a location this year and commence preliminary engineering at a minimum,” Sobanski said in an email to The Independent. 

Included in the 2026 budget:

• $9.75 million in road construction including $2.1 million for the rebuild of Thames, Niagara and Main Streets in Wyoming 

• $100,000 is set aside to begin reconstruction of the Reece’s Corner Trail, including widening the path. 

• A 2.75 per cent wage increase for all staff

• $60,000 for a contract position for a strategic communications officer

The budget also includes more money for firefighter training, the expansion of the Highland Glen parking lot and funding to continue the rehabilitation of the Wyoming Pool.

It’s not just the tax bill that will go up. Council also approved a 3.6 per cent rate hike for water and a 4.4 per cent increase for the sewer charge. By law, the water and waste water plants must be fully funded by the water and sewer rates.

In a news release, Mayor Gary Atkinson said council had used “exceptional team work” to bring a budget which supports the communities success while maintaining “strong fiscal responsibility.”