The provincial budget presented by Finance Minister Dwight Duncan, last Thursday will see nearly $3.2 million going to Dufferin County and its local municipalities toward improving public transit, municipal roads and bridges.

The impact, if any, on 2006 property taxes is expected to depend on whether local municipalities have already passed their budgets and set tax rates. Orangeville council is to resume its budget discussions next Monday, but Dufferin and most of its other local municipalities have already approved their budgets and set tax rates.

According to an announcement Friday, the McGuinty government is spending $1.2 billion province-wide as an investment to help move people and goods faster, create jobs and build a stronger economy.

The local breakdown in the one-time funding:

County of Dufferin $1,550,390; Amaranth $160,214; East Garafraxa $94,089; East Luther Grand Valley $120,777; Melancthon $118,822; Mono $281,182; Mulmur $131,699; Orangeville $536,484; Shelburne $175,173, for a total of $3,168,830 for the county and local municipalities.

Grey county alone will get $3,785,345, while the grant to Simcoe is $8,166,192 and to Wellington $3,448,343.

A complete breakdown of the budget can be found at www.ontariobudget.ca