It may not seem like much in terms of overall dollars, but a 2.2 per cent drop in the levy paid to Conservation Halton is much appreciated by township officials here.
On Jan. 10, Puslinch councillors heard from Conservation Halton CAO Hassaan Basit with respect to its 2018 budget.
At the outset of the presentation, prior to the announcement of the levy drop, Mayor Dennis Lever quipped that the township looked forward to its refund cheque.
Basit indicated he considered his presentation a good News story for the township.
Overall, Conservation Halton’s proposed budget is dropping from $33,186,231 (2017) to $31,603,177, Basit said.
While the municipal portion of funding to the authority’s levy is increasing 4.2%, the amount apportioned to Puslinch is dropping slightly.
Municipal levies make up 34% of the conservation authority’s funding, while self-generated revenue and grants account for 63% and provincial funding accounts for just 3%.
Basit noted Halton Conservation is one of the province’s highest generators of funds for its own projects, with 63% self-generated revenue and grants.
Basit attributed that to the financial strength of its parks – “Glen Eden is a big part of that.”
He also stated, “no tax dollars are used to support that park.”
For 2018, “we’ve done everything we can to tighten our belts.”
Basit stated a new aspect of the budget funding is a “state of good repair levy.”
He said last year he’d spoken to Puslinch council about the state of Conservation Halton’s dams and channelways, including efforts at taking a responsible, proactive approach to repairing them.
He noted the 2018 capital projects add up to close to $4.2 million. Certain items within the capital budget, such as a $500,000 groomer for Glen Eden, are not paid for through municipal tax levy.
An asset management plan determined the total replacement value is $94.9 million.
He explained much of Conservation Halton’s infrastructure was built in the 1960s.
“I like to say it was built before Neil Armstrong walked on the moon,” Basit said, adding it is critical infrastructure that cannot be deferred a year or two if it is not working properly.
“These are dams and water channels related to public safety.” He noted a number of conservation authorities had scaled back forest operations in the 1990s.
“Now with climate change and the EAB (emerald ash borer), there needs to be a better focus on forest management,” Basit said.
He noted Conservation Halton’s strategic plan was approved early last year.
The goal is a healthy watershed with clean streams, abundant forests and natural habitats that are in balance within growing communities and engaged residents.
Basit noted on the downside the authority had to remove 8,000 ash trees due to emerald ash borer.
“We are making progress removing the trees in the highest risk areas,” he said.
Basit considered flood operations at the top of his program list.
He pointed to improvements and potential updates to the authority’s real-time rain gauge network.
He said the previous infrastructure served well enough in its day but was based on the impacts of Hurricane Hazel (1954), when one knew days in advance of a coming storm. Today’s weather is much different, he said.
“One can experience a one-in-100 to 200 year storm in a fraction of the watershed.”
Basit said efforts to address that included a network of additional gauges.
“Our intent is to provide proper coverage of the watershed.”
Additional gauges are allowing the conservation authority to provide more accurate and up-to-date data to its municipal partners and to emergency services, he said.
Councillor Matthew Bulmer asked if the new gauges will allow the authority to update its flood plain mapping.
Basit said, “Our flood plain mapping is in dire need of upgrading throughout the watershed.” He explained the landscape has changed dramatically over the years and added it is within the budget to begin updating the floodplain mapping.
Councillor John Sepulis asked about the future and whether the province might consider relieving the municipal burden by providing more funds to conservation authorities.
Basit said the province is looking at conservation authorities, program by program, to identify what they do.
Councilor Ken Roth added, “It is still good News when someone comes and asks for less money. It may not be a big deal, but it’s heading in the right direction.”
Roth asked about the removal of the ash trees and what it will accomplish.
“Until the ash trees are all gone, we’re going to have a problem with the emerald ash borer. Instead of spending a million dollars trying to save them, wouldn’t it be better to let the emerald ash borers have them?”
Basit clarified that Halton Conservation is not treating the trees.
He explained vulnerable trees need to be removed in some areas because they are located close to where people might be (to reduce liability).
“It is an unfortunate cost of climate change,” he said.
He said the first three to four years in dealing with emerald ash borer is removing infected trees that may prove hazardous to people or property.
Lever wrapped up the discussion with the comment “you didn’t bring a cheque, but it was the next best thing.”
