|
It will be up to the mayor of Huron-Kinloss to decide the fate of the
tax increase this year.
Deputy mayor Wilfred Gambled chaired the budget meeting Monday night
(March 30) in the absence of mayor Mitch Twolan, and council was split,
3-3, on the two options provided by treasurer Jodi MacArthur.
Originally, MacArthur had three options, beginning with a 4.9% increase,
then a 6.3% increase and a 7.7% increase, depending on how much council
wanted to cut from the budget.
Councillor Jim Hanna said the 7.7% increase was way too much and council
agreed, so the third option was not even considered. Debate then centred
on the lower of the two, with councillor Don Murray suggesting the
numbers be changed to keep more money in the budget for road work which
is vital to the township. MacArthur reworked the numbers and came up
with a 5.2% increase for the first option.
She explained that while the total to be raised from taxation this year
has increased by over 10%, the average residential assessment has also
increased, by 7.7%, meaning the total residential tax rate has actually
gone down by two per cent, leaving the overall tax rate of 5.2%.
The average house assessed at $200,000 had a total tax bill of $2,332.65
in 2008, said MacArthur. This year, that same house is valued at
$215,420 and the tax bill will be $2,453.48, an increase of about $120.
That includes the Bruce County levy and the education tax. For the
municipal portion, the increase is about $70.
During discussion, council agreed to go ahead with a software program to
analyze and optimize the energy consumption in municipal buildings, as
outlined by facilities and recreation director Mike Fair. The program
will set up each building as a model and any proposed retrofit or
upgrade can be analyzed to determine if there are cost savings and
whether it is worthwhile to do the project, said Fair.
Councillor Don Murray compared it to an energy audit which could
determine, for example, if there is a three- to five-year payback for
installing new lights in all the municipal buildings. A summer student
would be hired to set up the program.
Council also accepted the $8,000 in the budget for Phase 2 renovations
to the Lucknow Town Hall. Staff said a Trillium grant is being applied
for, and if it is not successful, the project would be deferred.
The township initially approved giving $500 to the Grey Bruce
Agriculture and Culinary Association, and $553 to the Grey Bruce
Cultural Network but later cut those from the budget.
Discussion turned to the septic re-inspection program and the fee
landowners pay for that service. Councillor Anne Eadie said that fee
should be reduced because not as much education is required now as the
program enters its third year. However, the program is in the middle of
the cycle for this year so council agreed to review it in the fall
before the following year. "We should find a way to make this program
more cost-effective," said Eadie. (next column)
31/03/2009 08:59 PM
|
The township's share of the Huron Road reconstruction
project is almost $1 million, with grant funding through the Building
Canada Fund. MacArthur said funds have been allocated to the 2009 budget
to complete the work to acquire the easements and restoration of Jardine
Creek, with construction to begin in 2010. She said the project could
take up to three years to complete and recommended council pay for it
over three years rather than borrowing all the money and committing to a
10-year repayment. Council agreed.
"If there is money coming from the governments for infrastructure
projects, we are going to have to find the money to finance them, come
hell or high water," said Hanna, during discussion of capital projects.
"We have to improve the infrastructure in this municipality. The debt is
going to be incurred (by the federal and provincial governments) whether
we take advantage of it or not. Those who are well-prepared and ready
with their projects - and we are one of them - are going to be in good
shape."
He suggested the township meet with Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh and
discuss fixing the roof of the Lucknow Arena which could be one of these
projects. "Wait until the recreation board has the drawings for the
arena roof," said Murray.
Council wrapped up its budget meeting by concentrating on the two
options for a tax increase.
Hanna stuck with the higher rate (Option B), saying the township has
done an excellent job in maintaining services, equipment and buildings.
"It's easy to have a zero-per-cent budget," he said. "You just don't fix
anything. I go with Option B (6.3%) which addresses the business we're
doing here."
"My concern is that this is based on an average residential assessment,"
said Eadie. "There are people with increased assessments and they're
going to be hit with an increase each year for the next four years, on
top of a tax increase."
Administrator Mary Rose Walden told council to consider what it wants to
cut, then. "You say yes to all of these outside agencies and then at
budget time you want to cut. You have to find a balance, you can't keep
cutting the roads budget."
Murray suggested dropping the $34,000 sent to Kincardine for doctor
recruitment next year. "Perhaps we should look after our own
municipality first," he said.
"I understand what you're saying," said Hanna, "but we need to keep what
doctors we have."
"I have trouble with us going over a 5% increase," said Eadie. "That's
just an average, so there will be people facing a 10% increase in
taxes."
Murray also pointed out that many residents of Huron-Kinloss are facing
job losses, with the closure of the Volvo plant in Goderich and cutbacks
at the Wescast plant in Wingham.
"Unless they have a job at Bruce Power, a lot of people are going to be
in trouble," said Eadie.
Council agreed to have the treasurer bring forward the two options - a
5.2% or 6.3% increase - at the general committee meeting April 6 for a
decision and then the tax bylaw can come to council for final approval
April 20.
|
for
world news,
books, sports, movies ...
