District of Muskoka passes 2024 budget, province announces $11.4 M in funding, and more

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

District budget passed

Homeowners in Muskoka will see 3.98 percent increase on the District portion of their property tax bill after the District Council approved the 2024 budget on December 18.

Of the increase 3.94 percent is to fund municipal services, while 0.4 percent is to support the hospital redevelopment.

The tangible annual increase is $40.38 per $300,000 in property assessment in the region.

District Council approved a $155.9 million tax-support budget reflecting an operating levy of $94.2 million and $61.7 million in capital.

Key investments within the budget include $4.2 million to act on affordable housing and homelessness; $23 million to improve Muskoka’s road network (including $11 million for surfacing projects, $1.2 million for low-volume road improvements, in addition to Bay Street in Gravenhurst, Taylor Road in Bracebridge and Highway 118 projects); $30 million to expand access to 160 beds by redeveloping Fairvern Long-Term Care Home, part of a total investment to $121 million; $1.8 million to support future redevelopment of hospital sites in Muskoka and beyond; and $35.8 million to fund future infrastructure needs by increasing our contributions to reserve funds.

Learn more about the budget at: District 2024 Budget.

smith announces $11.4 M for infrastructure

Infrastructure rehabilitation initiatives throughout Parry Sound-Muskoka are getting a big boost to their budgets.

The provincial riding’s MPP Graydon Smith announced that the province is investing $11.4 million to help renew and rehabilitate critical infrastructure in Parry Sound-Muskoka.

“These funds are vital to ensuring that our municipal partners are able to build and renew critical community infrastructure,” says Smith. “Small towns and rural communities are front and centre in our plan to build Ontario.”

The District received over $4 million, while Bracebridge received over $400,000, Huntsville over $500,000 and Gravenhurst over $700,000. 

Below are the full 2024 funding allocations for Parry Sound-Muskoka.

Armour	$153,173
Bracebridge	$418,032
Burk’s Falls	$205,406
Carling	$100,000
Georgian Bay	$119,236
Gravenhurst	$721,094
Huntsville	$540,354
Joly	$100,000
Kearney	$202,643
Lake of Bays	$148,730
Machar	$100,000
Magnetawan	$262,654
McDougall	$251,359
McKellar	$146,136
McMurrich-Monteith	$100,000
Muskoka	$4,413,819
Muskoka Lakes	$687,956
Parry Sound	$1,411,853
Perry	$106,378
Ryerson	$100,000
Seguin	$453,791
South River	$100,000
Strong	$114,317
Sundridge	$145,291
The Archipelago	$180,862
Whitestone	$132,250

Huntsville approves road names

Town Council for Huntsville agreed to a by-law amendment to name yet to be developed roads after species in the Earl’s Road area.

These roads will eventually be part of the continued subdivision expansion taking place in areas near Muskoka Road 3 N. between the hospital and Golf Course Road.

The approved road names are Black Cherry Street, Fir Crescent, Spring Peeper Way, Meadowsweet Avenue, May Apple Drive, Wood Thrush Crescent, Green Ash Trail, and Trout Lily Drive.