ELORA – The passing of bylaw 2021-01 by Centre Wellington council on Jan. 18 was the final step in passing the 2021 budget for the municipality.
It includes an operating budget of $41.2 million, a capital budget of $15.2 million and results in a 1.33 per cent increase to property owners – an additional $15 on a home assessed at $381,000.
Budget highlights include:
– a 0% wage increase for township staff and two volunteer firefighter associations;
– two permanent full-time positions approved will be shared positions with neighbouring municipalities. This allows for resource sharing and a lower cost to each municipality;
– replacement of 5th Line culvert (structure 4-WG);
– repaving of 8th Line W from Middlebrook Road to Wellington Road 18;
– replacement of the watermain on Hill St. E from Gowrie St. to Cameron St. (Fergus);
– replacement of the ice pad at the Elora Community Centre; and
– servicing of employment lands on Dickson Drive (Fergus).
“I appreciate the dedication and hard work of our township team in developing a budget that recognizes the hardships faced by our businesses and families while still providing the funds necessary to deliver essential services,” said Mayor Kelly Linton.
Challenging year
“In the midst of a very challenging year, I am thankful to the members of council who supported this budget because it enables us to continue to get things done to help our community rebuild from COVID-19 and achieve our strategic priorities.”
Each councillor voiced his opinion on the budget before the final vote.
Councillor Bob Foster called it a “fail.”
“This was the year for 0%. I think we have failed on this,” Foster said.
Councillor Kirk McElwain said there wasn’t enough opportunity for further trimming of the budget.
“We gave direction in June to aim for below or equal to the [cost of living] index,” he said, adding that in June the cost of living was 1.4%, but by December it was 1.07%.
“A few tweaks could have brought it to 1.07%,” he said.
Councillor Neil Dunsmore thanked staff for accepting a 0% wage increase in 2021 as a cost-cutting measure and congratulated council for contributing to the asset management plan.
“We cut as deep as we could without throwing out the asset management plan with the bathwater,” he said.
Linton, who is also warden of Wellington County, said county council recently gave direction to county staff to reduce its budget increase from 2.5% to 1.25%.
Property tax bills include the county share, the municipal share, and education.
