LaSalle taxpayers to pay almost $179 more next year

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The average LaSalle homeowner will see municipal taxes increase by almost $179 in 2025, or 5.98 per cent 

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That’s down from a proposed $209 increase or seven per cent from the draft budget released in November. 

Those numbers are based on an average three-bedroom, single-family home with an assessed value of $270,000. 

LaSalle councillors met Dec. 4-5 to pare down the budget. 

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“It is never easy to prioritize one need over another,” said Mayor Crystal Meloche in a release. I think that we have moved forward with a fiscally responsible budget that provides our residents with the services that they expect. Some difficult decisions have been made throughout this process.” 

Cuts to the draft budget will have an effect on future projects, said Dale Langlois, LaSalle’s director of finance and treasurer.  

“These reductions do mean that there will be less funding available for future projects as part of the town’s asset management, strategic initiatives, fire master plan and information technology,” said Langlois. “Administration does understand the need to balance our operations with the needs of the community. Any further cuts would affect our service levels.” 

Among the cuts from the draft budget were $200,000 for an asset management plan – a document that maps out a plan for a municipality’s infrastructure and other assets to deliver a certain standard of service. 

Other reductions included $50,000 for staffing changes, $50,000 for the Fire Master Plan and $50,000 for information technology. 

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Total spending by the municipality will be $50 million, up from $45.8 million in 2024, an increase of 9.2 per cent.  

The budget includes $1 million for increased police costs, $1.3 million for enhancements, such as master plans and capital reserves, and $1.8 million for inflationary charges, which include wages and benefits, insurance and garbage collection. 

It also includes a “placeholder” of $3 million from the capital budget for construction of proposed pickelball courts. 

Council has authorized up to 300,000 for design of the courts, with a final decision on whether the project is approved and the accompanying spending made at a future date. 

The 2025 capital program includes more than 35 projects valued at $10,078,900. That spending includes $3.36 million for parks, just over $3 million for roads, $1 million for water infrastructure and $825,000 for pedestrian safety. 

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