Budget 2024: Clarendon sees tax base increase, lowers mill rate 6 cents

Budget 2024: Clarendon sees tax base increase, lowers mill rate 6 cents

As part of CHIP 101.9’s overview of municipal budgets throughout the Pontiac region, we spoke with Clarendon Mayor Ed Walsh about the goings on in his municipality.

Revenue

This year Clarendon’s budget decreased slightly in size, from $3,552,234 in 2023 to $3,489,555 in 2024.

Walsh explained that due to a significant rise in property evaluations, council had decided to lower the mill rate from 60 cents to 54 cents per $100 assessed. He said that on top of property values seeing a bump due to the pandemic, there were also homes built in the Lemay subdivision just outside Shawville on Rte. 303 that were added to the assessment roll.

Expenses

As with any rural municipality, road maintenance eats up a sizable chunk of the annual expenses and in Clarendon, it accounts for just under 50% or $1,594,600 out of $3,489,555.

Walsh said that some upcoming expenses include the purchase of a new plow truck ($151,714 lease) to update their fleet of aging vehicles, as well as an addition on their municipal building to meet legal requirements for storing their archives ($80,000).

The 2024 Clarendon budget and 3-year capital expenditures are available here: Clarendon 2024