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Kincardine council has endorsed the Saugeen Valley
Conservation Authority (SVCA)'s 2009 budget, despite an
eight-per-cent hike in the general levy.
In committee-of-the-whole of January 28, Councillor Ron Hewitt
explained that the budget sits at $3,048,081, up 1.17 per cent
from last year. However, that equates to an increase of $96,770
or eight per cent in the levy charged to municipalities.
Besides the municipal levy, the budget includes $145,459 from
the province for operating and $116,626 from the province for
capital; $14,900 in donations; $195,625 in special levy;
$1,165,107 in user fees; and $103,965 from reserves, said
Hewitt. "The problem is, the provincial funding is dwindling
every year because it's not geared to inflation," he said. "So
the municipalities must cover the shortfall."
Kincardine's levy increased by $8,887.60, to $241,746.99 from
$232,859.39. "Ours went up only about four per cent due to a
change in our assessment," said Hewitt.
"The SVCA's general levy has increased a lot more than this in
previous years," said councillor Kenneth Craig. "Has it levelled
off this year?"
Hewitt said that when provincial funding was cut significantly
in the mid-1990s, the SVCA was forced to cut staff. It then
began receiving complaints due to the delays in agency comments
on planning applications. To address that, the SVCA increased
its budget by about 10 per cent in order to hire staff. (next column)
30/01/2009 10:33 PM
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"Two years ago, the SVCA did a wage study and discovered
its rates were quite low," said Hewitt. "Younger staff are coming here
to train and then leaving for better wages. The agency implemented a
wage increase which affected the budget last year and this year. If we
cut this year's budget, we'll have to lay off staff. We're already using
up reserves. If the government does not increase funding, we'll be in
trouble."
Deputy mayor Laura Haight asked how much is left in reserves. Hewitt was
unsure of the actual figure but said it's a major concern. "Depleting
reserves is a dangerous path," he said. "Eventually, they're going to
run out." He said the SVCA has agreed to spend $17,000 on a strategic
plan to find out what programs are essential. "It will be done with
input from municipalities, to determine what the priorities are," he
said.
SVCA directors vote on the budget February 12. Council approved a motion
of support for it.
Other municipalities hit hard are: Saugeen Shores, up by $21,941.73, to
$252,631.02; West Grey, up by $13,329.34, to $158,414.05; Brockton, up
by $9,222.93, to $114,342.75; and Hanover, up by $8,011.19, to
$98,617.33. These are the only ones completely in the SVCA watershed;
the remaining municipalities are only partially in the watershed and saw
a smaller impact, including Huron-Kinloss where the increase was
$6,556.37, to $75,111.12.
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