At their final meeting before the Christmas break on Tuesday, December 14, Perth Town Council approved the new Strategic Plan as well as its 2022 Budget. Forecasting significant growth over the next several years, both items were developed throughout the latter half of the year with this in mind. The Town of Perth is projecting considerable population growth in the coming decade, increasing to upwards of 10,000 residents “We’re very excited about the future, and the potential that lies ahead for Perth,” says Mayor John Fenik. “With a firm vision on the coming growth, we’re able to effectively identify opportunities to make improvements for both existing and new residents alike.”

A number of items outlined in the approved budget tie back to strategic actions, including the completion of a location study for a new recreation facility, the development of an infrastructure master plan, expanding the final treatment cell at the lagoon to support projected growth, and continued budget support for the secondary unit grant program. The budget also provides the opportunity to winterize and improve accessibility of the Crystal Palace washrooms providing year-round access to the venue, continued road and bridge maintenance, and to continue to execute events such as the Perth Night Market to promote tourism. Municipal property taxes will increase 3.8% next year including 1.3% related to new growth. It will mean a boost of about $20 for every $100K of assessed property values.

The Strategic Plan and 2022 Budget can be found on the Town of Perth’s website.

Article by Brian Turner