Dear Editor,
I want to start off on a positive note, by thanking council for not buying a $200,000 excavator in an effort to save $10,000 / year. Unfortunately, I suspect that is the only thing I will be thanking council for as we are being prepared for our already ridiculously high property taxes to grow again. But not to worry, it’s only $95/year, assuming no increases from the county, which by the way there will be to make up for the loss in assessed value of the county’s gravel pits and no increase in my own property’s value. I’m certain when I compare 2016’s tax bill against 2017’s I’ll see significantly more than a $95 increase.
What worries me the most, is looking at the audited statements for 2015 (which are only made available in August 2016), how far off the budget vs. actuals come out to be. Mapleton budgeted a deficit of $448,808, but after all was said and done, we had a surplus of $396,167, for a total difference of $844,975. Now I ask how confident can the constituency be if council is off by nearly $1 million between budget and actuals on an operating budget of under $10 million? Further, how are we doing for 2016? Unfortunately, we’ll only find out in August of 2017, way too late to impact budget decisions for 2017.
As far as the agricultural development charge, I’m sure this isn’t going to be a popular opinion with a number in the community, but I suspect the mayor is hearing from the vocal minority against it. I’m sure if he petitioned residential home owners if the development charges should be approved, he’d hear a resounding yes.
Mike Minogue