After a day and a half of deliberations, Amherstburg town council has approved its 2019 budget.
Mayor Aldo DiCarlo says residents will see an increase of 1.82% however when the education and county levies are factored in, the increase drops 1.45%.
He says most budgets by town departments were approved in principle but some changes were made.
DiCarlo says the tourism budget received a lot of attention and a couple of changes were proposed but in the end council agreed to accept the budget as presented.
He says the budget includes the addition of two new full time staff members.
"They've hit a point where we do events so well, so big and so many that they need some help and using the provincial guidelines our events are bringing millions of dollars back into the town," says DiCarlo. "There's just no disputing that."
#Amherstburg's #2019 operating and capital budget deliberations have concluded...Municipal levy has changed from 2.65% to 1.82%
— Town of Amherstburg (@Aburg_TownHall) February 13, 2019
DiCarlo says the town will continue to invest in its infrastructure.
"About $14.5 million worth," says DiCarlo. "We are still investing heavily in our roads and infrastructure, culverts, bridges. So off the top of my head basically we went by the master roads needs study that we did. That has proven to be an excellent study and a wonderful document."
The original draft budget increased called for a 2.65% increase.
DiCarlo says for the second straight year, council decided against hiring a Communications Officer.