Lincoln, ON – (December 14, 2023) – Town of Lincoln Council has approved the 2024 Budget, balancing solid and sustainable financial management with continued investment in the community. The Town of Lincoln’s Committee of the Whole approved the 2024 Capital Budget on November 29 and the Operating Budget on December 11.
The Budget includes a motion to investigate multi-year budgeting and another to investigate the viability and impacts of offering a property tax rebate or discount for low-income Seniors and households. Town staff have been directed to report back on both motions within the first quarter of 2024.
“The Town of Lincoln’s 2024 Budget is both purposeful and resourceful, demonstrating restraint, foresight and progressive thinking in protecting our future, always with the well-being and prosperity of Lincoln taxpayers top of mind,” said Town of Lincoln Mayor Sandra Easton. “Council leaned on its strategic priorities as a guidepost to plan for this coming year and for all the work we do to make Lincoln an exceptional community.”
“I would like to thank all Council and staff members, especially our Treasurer, members of Corporate Leadership Team and the Finance team for leading this collaborative effort to prepare a balanced budget for the community,” said Greg Reimer, Ward 4 Councillor and Chair of the Budget-Committee of the Whole. “I would also like to thank the community members who took time to share their thoughts through our annual Budget Survey; this is an opportunity to share your priorities with us, and please rest assured that your input is reflected in the approved budget and is taken into account when planning for future budgets.”
The Town of Lincoln 2024 Budget will see 2% percent dedicated towards Capital projects and 5.9% to the Operating Budget. Overall, this translates approximately to a 2.9% property tax increase related to the Lincoln portion of the tax bill.
Lincoln’s tax bill accounts for three agencies. In addition to the Town of Lincoln’s portion of the tax bill, property taxes pay for the delivery of services by the Niagara Region and the School Boards. The Town of Lincoln accounts for 37%, Niagara Region for 52% and School Boards for 11%. The Region and School Board impacts on the tax bill have not yet been finalized.
The Town’s CAO Michael Kirkopoulos, added: “The Budget process is a continuous, year-long endeavour that requires much collaboration and consideration. In preparing the 2024 Budget, we addressed many challenges and complexities including ongoing financial pressures which are being felt in our community and beyond. We sought savings across the board that would have the least possible impact to the taxpayer without compromising the exceptional service we collectively bring to the community. This also included deferring some projects to future years.”
The Capital Budget demonstrates the Town’s commitment to investing in infrastructure to support transportation, safety and environment, social infrastructure, and corporate initiatives, while the Operating Budget maintains and, in some cases, enhances service levels. The following are several projects approved in the 2024 Budget that highlight the Town’s dedication to community improvement:
- Hospital contributions to serve residents in Lincoln and all of West Niagara
- Investments in the 2023 Road Resurfacing and Rehabilitation Program to keep roads in a good state of repair
- Investment in Water and Wastewater Programs to prioritize health and safety, legislated obligations and strategic, growth-related investment
- Continued investment in the Truck Bypass Camera Monitoring Pilot Program, in alignment with the Town’s continued efforts to reduce non-essential truck traffic through Lincoln and keep neighbourhoods safe
- Collaboration with the City of St. Catharines to establish a joint Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) to support tourism and economic growth through increased visitation and visitor spending
- The implementation of a Municipal Accommodation Tax to bolster tourism economic growth in Lincoln and ultimately fund the DMO
- Continued community events offset by sponsorship funds, additional drop-in program staffing
- Enhance Museum youth programing
- Continued shared fire and emergency services
- New shared services opportunity that will lower and offset Lincoln costs for climate adaptation and IT
- Roadside Safety Program, continuing to invest in traffic safety measures to protect residents and visitors
For more information on the Town of Lincoln’s 2024 Budget, visit SpeakUpLincoln.ca/budget2024.
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