Council here approved a 2016 budget with a 17.29 per cent increase in the local levy at the Feb. 9 meeting.
The township will raise $5,882,236 through the levy, up $867,303 from the 2015 levy of $5,014,933.
The blended tax rate increase, including township, county and school board taxes, is 2.91%, while the township tax rate increase is 9.7%.
The total increase in the tax bill (including county and school taxes) on an average residence assessed at $300,000 will be $121. The home’s total 2016 tax bill of $4,150 would include a township portion of $1,454, a county portion of $2,073 and education taxes of $623.
Properties on which assessment changed between 2015 and 2016 will face a higher increase. For example, on a property with a 2015 assessment of $308,628, increased to $319,373 this year, the owner would see an increase of $264.
Total township spending in 2016 will be $8,960,853, up just over $1 million from $7,946,473 last year.
Township revenues are budgeted at $3,078,617 this year, compared to $2,931,810 in 2015. Revenues in this year’s budget take into account a reduction of $126,000 in the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund contribution from the province.
Included in the budget is $600,000 for the reconstruction of King, Queen, Market and Wortley streets in Drayton in conjunction with Wellington County’s reconstruction of Main Street. The county is planning a public open house on the project, which includes storm sewers and bridge rehabilitation, on March 2 from 6 to 8pm at the PMD arena community hall.
The budget also contains:
– $30,000 for a dehumidifier at the PMD arena;
– $30,000 for replacement of a lawnmower for the parks department;
– $60,000 from reserves for a columbarium at the Drayton Cemetery; and
– $20,000 in yet-to-be designated funds under the township’s 50/50 program, which sees costs of community projects shared with local groups and service clubs.
The capital budget also includes $7,150 for the first installment on an $18,000 three-year expenditure on new computers, tablets and servers.
The budget includes an increase in roads reserve contribution from $225,000 to $250,000 and an increase of $25,000 from operating to reserve for the PMD arena floor refrigeration system.
The budget contains a 1.2% cost-of-living wage increase for township employees, which will also apply to council members. Overall, township wages costs will go up by an estimated 6.9%.
CAO Brad McRoberts says the wage cost increase is due to a number of factors, including:
– increased overtime based upon previous years’ actual figures;
– individual increases for staff as they progress annually through the job grid based upon satisfactory or better performance evaluations;
– creation of new senior positions for existing staff as part of organizational restructuring (i.e. new lead hand position, etc.); and
– pay equity adjustments.
Early in the budget process, councillor Michael Martin proposed money be set aside for the acquisition and installation of an audio/video system to record all public meetings of FROM PAGE ONEcouncil and allow them to be posted on the Mapleton Township website.
CAO Brad McRoberts told the Advertiser in an email that council has not decided if it will proceed with the initiative, but made an allowance for it in the budget. He said the capital cost would be “minimal” if council elects to proceed.
A long processs
Prior to the passage of the budget resolution, finance director Yufang Du commented “it’s been a long process and we had an intensive public process.”
The township held a total of four budget meetings, which were open to the public, and a budget open house.
Councillor Dennis Craven pointed out that in order to reduce the blended tax rate increase to 2.9%, council lowered a planned contribution to reserves for eventual replacement of the PMD arena floor.
“I just want to caution everybody that that’s almost like borrowing from reserves to get it down to two-point-nine,” said Craven.
Councillor Marlene Ottens pointed out that recreation items make up a large percentage of the township’s expenses.
“Its right here in black and white that our arenas and parks and all our recreational facilities have over a million in expenses and bring in $290,000 in revenue.”
While stressing she doesn’t consider the money “lost,” Ottens said, “For 10,000 residents that’s $72.50 a person that it costs to have our facilities. When people wonder where the money goes, that’s where some of the money goes.”
Craven stated, “Certainly we need to do a service review here … I think we need to have a look at our whole operation as to what we’re going to provide.”
“I agree,” said Martin, noting that in 2010 the township tax levy was just over $3 million “and this budget puts it up over $5.8 million. So we’ve almost doubled it.
“It’s our responsibility to look at all our services,” said Martin, who also thanked township staff members for their work on the budget through a period when the municipality was replacing department heads in administration and public works.
“I appreciate the work that went into it,” Martin stated.
Mayor Neil Driscoll echoed Martin’s comments, stating, “this is one of the best budget processes we’ve gone through. The information council asked for, we got it right away … I think that led to this council making some good decision on what we could do with the budget.”
Infrastructure deficit is real
However, the mayor expressed concern that, “We’re not attacking our infrastructure deficit at all.”
Driscoll expressed disappointment to see the term “infrastructure deficit” referred to recently as “a buzzword” in a recent issue of Municipal World magazine.
“It’s not a buzzword it’s a true fact – and until we get our MPs and MPPs out to our rural municipalities and show them the trouble we’re in, I don’t think they’ll realize the true state of our affairs, honestly.”
“I sometimes think one of our biggest problems can be summed up in three letters – G-T-A,” said Craven.
Council passed the budget unanimously. Councillor Lori Woodham was absent.
