Huntsville taxes to rise by 10.89%, and MAHC announces community chat series

We’ve put together some of our own Muskoka Newsbites from various sources including media releases, along with a few notes contributed by our friends at The Bay 88.7 FM.

huntsville to raise taxes by 10.89%

The Town of Huntsville’s general committee has approved a proposed municipal tax rate increase of 10.68 percent after several deliberations and budget cuts occurred over the past few months.

The proposed 2024 budget, which is almost certain to be approved at the upcoming January regular council meeting, will result in a real dollar amount increase of $137 per $300,000 of assessed property value.

This means the Huntsville portion of a tax bill will see property taxes of $1,420 per $300,000 and a total of $2,850 per $300,000 when adding in the education tax and District of Muskoka taxes.

The initial proposed net tax rate increase was 15.26 percent, but staff were directed to reduce the rate to 10.89 percent, which they were able to better slightly by arriving at 10.68 percent.

The budget includes new fulltime staff positions in the parks department to keep up with demands, an increase of $672,200 in funding to support the Town’s capital infrastructure, and $230,000 towards the ongoing commitment to fund the local share of the Hospital project.

MAHC community chats

A series of community chats will be hosted by Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC) – both in-person and virtually – beginning on Jan. 29.

A media release from the organization indicates these chats will “introduce the Made-in-Muskoka Healthcare system of the future.”

Basically, the community will be getting an update on the two sites and status of the planned hospital builds in Huntsville and Bracebridge.

Sessions are being held:

Monday, January 29 at 7 p.m. – Dwight Community Centre

Tuesday, January 30 at 7 p.m. – Gravenhurst Terry Fox Auditorium

Wednesday, January 31 at 7 p.m. – Armour, Ryerson & Burk’s Falls Arena Hall

Thursday, February 1 at 7 p.m. – Huntsville Active Living Centre

Tuesday, February 6 at 7 p.m. – Bracebridge Rotary Centre for Youth

Wednesday, February 7 at 7 p.m. – Port Carling Community Centre

Virtual chats are also scheduled on Friday, February 2 at 10:30 a.m. and Monday, February 5 at 7 p.m. Visit www.mahc.ca/communitychats to register to attend a virtual chat via Zoom, and for more information.