Council here has opted to tell Grand River Conservation Authority board member Pat Salter she should vote in favour of that group’s draft budget on Feb. 24.
The GRCA is proposing to spend $33.4 million this year, and the municipal funding portion of the levy is $9.19 million, a three per cent increase over last year. There are 22 municipalities in the Grand River watershed that will share that expense.
The levy is apportioned to the municipalities on a basis of “modified current value assessment.”
Among the larger expenditures is about $1.47 million for water resources planning and environment, and $1.56 million for water control structures (dams). Other major expenditures include $21.64 million in operating expenditures, $4.78 million in capital programs and $7 million in special projects.
Mapleton’s apportionment of the levy is 0.8 per cent. Last year its share was $78,285 and this year it will pay about $1,600 more; a 2.1 per cent increase.
When council discussed the budget, councillor Neil Driscoll said he had a question of the GRCA last year that was never answered. He wanted to know why the authority was holding on to farmland that could be sold.
Councillor Mike Downey said there was an answer from officials. He said he heard that for every piece of land sold, the GRCA must acquire an equal amount of land and maintain its holdings. Downey said he heard that is a provincial regulation.
Mayor Bruce Whale said council can ask the GRCA officials again about that.
Driscoll said he is concerned because some of the GRCA-owned farmland is not be farmed using best practices.
As for the budget itself, Whale said it seems to him “They are trying to keep their budget increase at a reasonable level.”
He also noted the local Trees for Mapleton is now funded through the GRCA.
Driscoll wondered if that program is in jeopardy. Whale had heard there was zero funding for it in 2012.
Driscoll said the person hired for the Trees for Mapleton project “has done a pretty good job.”
Whale said a GRCA official had stated Wellington County might find a way to support it. He added the township will schedule a meeting with GRCA officials in March to hear council questions.
Council then voted to authorize Salter to support the budget proposal.
