The Operating budget covers the daily expenses that the municipality incurs to provide programs and services to residents. It includes costs such as materials and supplies, general maintenance, and salaries.
Budget and Finance
Municipal Budget Overview
Each year, the Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula adopts an annual budget to address its operating and capital requirements. The municipal budget is a key policy and planning document that outlines the Municipality’s priorities and reflects a careful balance between fiscal responsibility and the delivery of high-quality services to residents.
The budget process is open and transparent. All budget meetings are open to the public and are advertised through the Municipality’s website and local newspapers. Municipal staff prepare a preliminary budget for Council’s consideration, incorporating input from residents, to support informed decision-making regarding municipal services and programs for the year ahead.
The Municipal budget consists of two main components:
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Operating Budget – Covers the day-to-day costs of delivering municipal programs and services, including salaries, materials, supplies, general maintenance, and contracted services.
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Capital Budget – Addresses major municipal assets and infrastructure, including the acquisition, rehabilitation, and replacement of roads, bridges, buildings, machinery, and other long-term assets.
Finance Management
The Treasury Department manages and invests public funds to support community needs and align with the Municipality’s Strategic Plan. The Department oversees municipal financial operations to ensure accountability, sustainability, and long-term financial stability.
Responsibilities include asset management, development charges, taxation, water and wastewater billing, purchasing, the annual budget, and the administration of reserves and reserve funds, which support future capital needs, stabilize tax rates, and fund infrastructure over time.
Learn more about budget and finance within the Municipality through the links below.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Capital budget addresses the municipality’s major capital assets and infrastructure. It covers the acquisition, rehabilitation, and replacement of assets such as bridges, machinery, buildings, and roads.
How are capital projects prioritized?
Council establishes priorities using tools such as the Strategic Plan, the Asset Management Plan, the Road and Sidewalk Needs Study, and the Parks and Recreation Master Plan to guide the budget process.
How much of the operating budget comes from taxes?
In 2024, the total budgeted operating expenses were $13,560,871. The total tax levy required (amount billed to taxpayers) was $5,264,945.
The difference is offset by grants, user fees (excluding water and wastewater), and other revenue sources.
How does the budget affect my property taxes?
The budget includes the anticipated costs for the Municipality to provide services for the year. Revenue sources such as user fees and grants are applied to those expenses. The balance is billed to the property owners based on their assessment.
What makes up the Bruce County portion of my tax bill?
The County of Bruce is our upper tier Municipality. The County is responsible for services such as childcare, long-term care homes, ambulance and paramedic, county road maintenance, economic development, and land use planning. The County goes through a budget process and establishes the amount required from taxpayers. This County-wide tax rate is applied to all Bruce County taxpayers according to their assessment. The lower-tier municipalities collect and remit this amount to the province.
What makes up the Education portion of my tax bill?
The Province of Ontario is responsible for the public education system. The province levies a rate applicable to all residential taxpayers throughout the province. This rate is applied to your assessment to calculate the amount you will pay for education. The municipality collects and remits this amount to the province.
The education amount for Commercial and Industrial properties is based on different formulas calculated by the province.
How are water and wastewater expenses paid for?
The expenses for the Lion’s Head Water System, the Lakewood Sewer System, and the Tobermory Sewer System are paid by the users of these systems. Any funds budgeted for these utilities can only be used for that purpose.
Submit your questions:
Submit your questions to budgets@northernbruce.ca or at our Municipal Office.
Participate in meetings:
All meetings are open to the public, you can attend in person or watch on our Council Portal. Please contact clerk@northernbruce.ca for information about participation in Council meetings.
Provide your feedback:
Provide your feedback to council by sending a direct email council@northernbruce.ca.
Contact Us
Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula
56 Lindsay Road 5
Lion’s Head ON N0H 1W0
1-833-793-3537
Email Us