MUSKOKA – The District of Muskoka is shaking its tin can at its six area municipalities as it starts pulling in millions of dollars in taxes for 2013.
District council approved a bylaw during its meeting on Monday, Dec. 17, to collect $41.4 million from Huntsville, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Lake of Bays, Muskoka Lakes and Georgian Bay. Each municipality is required to provide a different amount based on its assessment.
The area municipalities must transfer their funds to the district by April 2.
Muskoka Lakes will pay the lion’s share at $13.4 million, with Huntsville coming in second at $7.5 million.
Gravenhurst and Bracebridge are on the hook for $6.3 million and $6.2 million, respectively.
Georgian Bay will contribute $4.1 million, with Lake of Bays contributing $4 million.
While the order of who pays how much is the same as last year, each municipality will pay slightly more in the coming year.
Last year, Muskoka Lakes paid about $13.1 million, Huntsville paid about $7.4 million, Gravenhurst paid about $6.1 million, Bracebridge paid about $6 million, Georgian Bay paid about $4 million and Lake of Bays paid about $3.9 million.
The amount the district is collecting has increased by $916,265 to $41,369,672 from $40,453,407.
Municipalities pay for a share of services such as waste disposal, water and sewer infrastructure, planning, district road maintenance and a portion of social services.