ABERFOYLE – Puslinch council started slogging through the township’s proposed 2025 capital budget at its Oct. 23 meeting.
The proposed capital budget for 2025 totals $6.6 million. Of that, $1.4 million is proposed to come from the tax levy and the balance from reserves or grants.
Big projects on the horizon to be paid for by the levy include:
- $975,825 to the asset management discretionary reserve;
- $370,800 to the gravel roads reserve;
- $5,000 for a decibel meter and calibrator to help with noise complaints;
- $40,000 to the administrative studies reserve;
- $20,000 to the corporate information technology reserve; and
- $17,127 for a diesel exhaust system.
Council commented on the value of the projects and had some discussion on the proposed funding.
By the end of the discussion, council offered a few changes that staff will take back, recalculate and return with an updated capital budget.
The end game, according to their discussion, seemed to be building capital reserves and to take the brunt from the taxpayer.
Among the new recommendations:
- staff will report back on ways to reduce the cost of replacing halogen lights with LED lights at the Puslinch Community Centre (PCC), possibly through bulk buying with other municipalities;
- fund the $37,000 electronic sign at the PCC and the $17,750 Killean school bell cairn from the cash in lieu of parkland reserve, and continue fundraising efforts for both projects;
- include a perpetual maintenance bylaw in the 2025/26 corporate work plan;
- discuss with the Ministry of Transportation the possibility of closing the intersection at Concession 1 and Highway 6 and defer paving this stretch of Concession 1 until a cul de sac is established;
- take 0.05% of a tax levy increase contribution to the gravel roads discretionary reserve and reallocate that amount to the asset management reserve in 2025;
- incorporate two radar speed signs in the 2025 budget and continue funding two radar speed signs in subsequent years; and
- set aside $10,000 from the asset management discretionary reserve as a placeholder while staff consults with the hydrogeologist and Source Water Protection on the value of supporting a funding request from the Morwick G360 Ground Water Research Institute. The research institute, based out of the University of Guelph, delegated to council earlier in the meeting, seeking a financial contribution as it studies groundwater flow systems in the region.
While council approved these recommendations, it did not approve the capital budget. That will happen at a later date.
The following are the key dates regarding the budget:
- present proposed capital budget and 10-year forecast to council on Oct. 23;
- adoption of user fees and charges bylaw, Nov. 6;
- present proposed base operating budget to council, Nov. 20;
- grant applications and amounts requested under the Grant Application Program, Nov. 20;
- updated capital and operating budget based on council’s direction, Jan. 15;
- proposed budget public information meeting, Jan. 22; and
- final budget approval, Feb. 12.
Residents will also be able to comment on the budget at engagepuslinch.ca once the operating and capital budgets are presented to council.
