To begin, council passed a 4.54% municipal tax rate increase for the town of Midland during the 2025 budget meeting, equating to a 3.95% blended tax rate increase.
However, of note was a health issue late in day three when nearing the 12-hour mark, Coun. Sheldon East left the meeting under his own volition to go to Georgian Bay General Hospital
“I don’t know,” said Midland Mayor Bill Gordon on East’s status following the meeting. “He left under the weather, but he left with (Fire Chief Richard Renaud) who volunteered to drive him.”
Early in 2024 East had suffered health issues, which he had been gradually returning with strength to the role of councillor; Midland had lost two council members previously in the term with the unexpected deaths of Deputy Mayor Jack Contin and former Mayor and Coun. Jim Downer.
Gordon told MidlandToday that three days of budget meetings could get emotional at times, and East had expressed remorse late in the day following a council decision the day prior to not hire a staff request for an event and marketing coordinator position. East, stating he was hoping to have the energy to continue, put forward a notice of motion to reconsider.
Following another half-hour of discussion, council held a recorded vote to approve the position. Minutes later a break was had and East left the meeting.
Council’s decision to pass the 4.54% municipal tax rate increase was primarily due to drawing $286,000 from the tax stabilization reserve contingent that the amount is allocated next year, which was a practice not recommended by staff.
“Once we’d done all the hacking and slashing we could agree to do,” said Gordon, “if the end result wasn’t close enough to the number we really wanted to see, then the very last resort is to reach back into that piggy bank again to try to get to that number for the residents.”
Gordon equated it to using a credit card, but also reasoned that many municipalities in the province were doing the same this year due to unexpected OPP billing costs which spiked budgets everywhere.
For a 4.54% municipal tax rate increase, the county rate of 3.63% and a 0% increase to education as set by the province equated to a blended $3.95% tax rate increase (or a $65.10 increase) total per $100,000 of property assessment.
“Getting below 4% was an important milestone for most of us,” said Gordon, who stated he was “happy” at the 3.95% result.
Many approvals happened throughout the budget, but some surprise savings helped immensely.
As the North Simcoe Sports and Recreation Centre is an evacuation centre in case of emergency, an $800,000 generator had been put off for years; manager Dave Bressette found a suitable replacement for $450,000, earning much respect from council.
The Midland Cultural Centre found themselves asking only $10,000 for an increase, surprising many on council who expected much more.
The Economic Development Corporation of North Simcoe received $87,500 in funding after nearly two hours of conversation and following a strong presentation by the organization. The Midland Public Library was roughly given their 2024 requested amount despite increasing pressures. The town’s highly-anticipated $1.25 million splash pad was approved with council urging to have it installed and opened in May of 2026.
Detailed information, timelines and reports on the 2025 budget can be found on the budget and finance page of the Town of Midland’s website.
The three-day 2025 budget deliberation recordings are expected to be available on the Town of Midland’s YouTube channel on late Friday afternoon.