Centre Hastings council has approved the municipality’s 2026 budget.
The $13.76-million budget involves a 9.73 per cent tax increase for ratepayers, adjusted to 8.18 per cent when growth is factored in.
It means taxpayers will see an average annual increase of approximately $100 for every $100,000 of assessed value, or about $8 per month.
More than half of the budget’s increase is for capital programs and infrastructure replacement.
The overall capital budget is $3.88 million, $1.92 million of which relates to bridge replacements on Sills Road and Ray Road.
Nearly $1 million is allocated to Public Works equipment replacement.
There is $400,000 for Parks, Recreation and Facilities for the replacement of infrastructure, with $138,000 for environmental services and $112,000 for fire vehicle and equipment replacement.
The municipality will also continue hardtop preservation work on various sections of roadway.
Later this year, work will begin on the replacement of the Madoc Village potable water standpipe, a project supported by the provincial government.
Preliminary work is also starting on the Madoc sanitary sewer trunk expansion project with construction likely to start in 2027.
