Petrolia has become the first municipality in Lambton County to approve its budget, even before the 2017 budget year begins.
Before County and Education levies are factored in, Petrolia ratepayers will be paying 1% more per household, or about $3 more for a home assessed at $100,000.
CAO Manny Baron says the town feels it's the way of the future.
"Truthfully, it helps us plan better," he says. "We can start first thing in January and we don't have to wait until March or April."
The budget and total revenues will each be $6.5-million with council approving $2.2-million in capital spending.
Capital infrastructure plans include a two-year reconstruction of Florence, Egan and Kerby Streets, a radio replacement program at the fire hall, new boards and compressor at the arena and an expansion at the community centre.
Water rates will increase by 2% in 2017 to help pay for the second year of the water meter replacement program, critical repairs to the water intake in Lake Huron, and completing the replacement of the Mandaumin Reservoir.
"We've prioritized what has to be done," Baron says. "We saved ourselves about $6-million on the water capital side which allowed us to lower how much we were going to increase our water rates. We were set to go 7% this year but by re-prioritizing, we were able to get that down to 2%."
Sewer rates will decrease by 5% in 2017.
This is the first time the town has targeted rate changes for future years.
A 3% tax rate change and a 2% water rate change is projected for 2018 and 2019, while a 10% sewer rate decrease is targeted in 2018 and a further 5% decrease in 2019.
