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It was a long and tedious process, but Kincardine council has whittled
down its 2009 tax increase to less than three per cent in the first
round of budget talks.
Treasurer Brenda French presented council with a draft budget Monday
evening (March 2) which showed a levy increase of $721,852 or 13.18 per
cent. For the most common (median) residential assessment of $169,500,
that works out to a tax increase of $86.73.
By the time council finished with operating and capital budgets Thursday
evening (March 5), the increase was at 2.74 per cent or a hike of about
$18 on a median assessment.
However, council still has several capital projects to consider and
plans to put money into new reserves, so the municipality could see a
tax hike of about four to five per cent at the end of further budget
negotiations March 31. The total budget for Kincardine is $25 million,
with about $16 million of that for operating expenses.
At the outset, French told council that she is concerned that $6 million
has been drawn from reserves to fund the budget. This is the fifth
straight year the municipality has had to do that. She also pointed to
the lower opening balance of $377,500. It began as $500,000 but had to
be reduced by the $122,500 loan to the Kincardine Pavilion which was
forgiven by council.
French said Kincardine has the second lowest tax rate in all of Bruce
County. In fact, its tax rate is 28 per cent below that of Saugeen
Shores which provides similar services, she said.
She also reminded council that in order to bring the budget down to the
target of 3.5 per cent, it would have to cut about $500,000 in either
operating or capital costs.
Over the course of three-and-a-half hours Monday night, another
hour-and-a-half Wednesday night and another two hours Thursday night,
council poured over operating budgets for each department.
Some of the major costs on the tax rate are $387,703 for mayor and
council, $461,515 for physician recruitment and retention, $204,492 for
the airport, $102,300 for community grants, and $2.139 million for
policing. Under buildings, the municipal administration centre costs
$349,057, roads maintenance is $2.2 million, $502,415 for mechanics,
$448,813 for garbage collection, and $146,021 for cemeteries.
Expenses for the Davidson Centre are $1.3 million, with $473,200
collected in revenue; recreation costs $537,349, off-set by $353,600 in
revenue; parks, $519,433, with $61,075 in revenue; and tourism,
$280,264, with $15,400 in revenue. (next column)
07/03/2009 01:23 PM
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Other major expenses include $245,996 for the Saugeen
Valley Conservation Authority; and planning and zoning, $441,779.
Under the capital budget, which took the remainder of Thursday night,
council agreed to finance the addition to the Kincardine Community
Medical Clinic, freeing up $1.6 million in reserves.
Several projects which would have increased the tax rate, were expended
through old geological reserves from the former Town of Kincardine (Ward
1), Kincardine Township (Ward 2) and Bruce Township (Ward 3). From
there, came the $15,000 cost for front stairs, ramps, etc. at the Armow
W.I building, $274,000 for the Huron Terrace bridge work, $50,000 for
Lake Street subdrain in Inverhuron, $40,000 for two vehicles, $10,000
for a Skyjack scissor lift, $55,000 for the St. Andrew's parkette in
Tiverton, and $20,000 for the Tiverton Walk of Memories.
Staff must now make all the changes to the budget, as put forward by
council, and bring back a second draft for discussion March 31 at 7 p.m.
By then, staff should know what the levy will be for the county level
and the school board. At that meeting, council will consider several
additional items and will also decide whether to put more money into new
reserves.
Under the consideration list for operating expenses are: contribution to
airport reserve fund, $150,000; Women's House grant (Mount Forest
Avenue), $25,000; Tiverton Sports Centre washroom repairs, $20,000;
Davidson Centre, ceiling in arena, $25,000; Davidson Centre, arena
lighting, $20,000; contribution to recreation reserve fund, $50,000;
change to full-time horticulturalist, $20,000; transfer to reserve for
Inverhuron Tennis Court, $50,000; Olympic Torch event, $25,000;
Inverhuron study, $30,000.
Under the consideration list for capital projects are: community
emergency management co-ordinator, printers, $1,100 and computer
backups, $1,000; replacement pumper for the fire department (Tiverton),
$380,000; new HVAC for Tiverton fire station, $15,000; Kincardine fire
station addition, $200,000; generator for the municipal administration
centre, $130,000; reconstruct bridge between Highway 9 and Northline,
$162,000; new sidewalk on St. Albert Street, $55,000; Mount Forest
Avenue, $50,000; cemeteries, $20,000; Park Street trail bridge, site
preparation, $97,000; relocate trail out of cemetery, $35,000; arts
centre, theatre flooring, $10,000; washrooms at Whitney Crawford
Community Centre, $38,000; picnic shelter frameworks, $24,000; signage,
$45,000; painting water tower with logo, $125,000; plotter scanner for
building department, $32,000.
The total for the consideration list is $1,835,100.
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