Municipality of Bluewater Adopts Responsible Budget
by Bob Montgomery
Council of the Municipality of Bluewater adopted the 2025 budget at the January 13th Regular Meeting of Council.
Mayor Paul Klopp stated “The budget ensures that we’re investing in the infrastructure and services that are necessary for our community.”
Through the budget process, Council and staff sought to set a municipal budget that is both fair and attainable in that it supports the continued delivery of municipal services in a challenging economic climate. Aside from policing costs which increased 18.27% over 2024 amounts, and contributions to reserves, Bluewater’s 2025 operating budget remains largely unchanged over 2024 amounts. Ultimately, the 2025 budget has been set at $22.3 million for operating and $5.8 million for capital. This will result in a Bluewater tax levy of $10.6 million, resulting in an overall municipal tax levy increase of 5.34% after growth, excluding rates for the County of Huron and school boards. For ratepayers, this will translate to an estimated increase in the municipal tax portion of $88 in 2025 for a single-family home when using the estimated assessment value of $266,000.
Capital investments identified for 2025 include replacing culvert on Blackbush Line; paving Airport Line from Mill Road to the Bayfield River Bridge (7.5 km); replacing the Zurich Fire Pumper Tanker; purchasing a new sidewalk plow; replacing sanitary main lining on John St. N., Zurich; replacing the Hensall Arena condenser; and replacing baseball diamond lighting in Hensall and at the north diamond at Varna.
