One Guelph-Eramosa resident wondered aloud on Monday night what rural residents are getting out of the township’s proposed 2012 budget, which, he opined caters too much to Rockwood residents.
But Mayor Chris White shot down that assessment.
“That’s not true,’ White said. “It’s spread out as best we can.”
About 70% of the budget is spent on roads and bridges, the mayor told five residents in the gallery for the public budget meeting.
Councillors explained all water and wastewater costs are covered by users in urban areas – as are streetlights – and a lot of the work proposed for the Rockwood area in particular comes from grants or the Rockwood hydro fund.
Other than the complaint about geographical allocation of tax dollars, the meeting to consider a proposed 9.1% tax levy hike was relatively quiet.
Additional topics raised by the handful of residents included fluctuating fire department costs, poor water pressure in areas of the township, what the municipality is doing to plant more trees, and outdated township signs.
“It’s an embarrassment,” White admitted when questioned about why so many municipal signs still contain the names of pre-amalgamation townships.
But White cautioned the signs can’t be changed over night and the township has never made an official commitment to change all the signs.
“It needs to be addressed … You’re absolutely right. We need to get you some action,” White said, adding the township will consider sign replacement in the future.
The 2012 budget, expected to be passed by council at its Feb. 20 meeting, includes a tax levy of $4,720,815, which is up 9.1% over the 2011 levy of $4,327,006.
Due to increased assessment the actual local tax increase will be closer to 7.5% or $62 for the average township taxpayer.
For a residential property assessed this year at $352,800, the owner will pay $892 in township taxes, $2,338 in county taxes and $780 in education taxes to the province, for a total of $4,010.
Last year the same owner would have paid $830, $2,296, $773 and $3,899 respectively.
The overall tax bill will increase this year for Guelph-Eramosa residents by 2.85%.
“The township strives to bring forward a total blended tax rate just under the rate of inflation,” said finance manager Linda Cheyne.
Councillor Doug Breen said he appreciates the county keeping its levy increase below 2% .
“My hat’s off to the county,” Breen said, adding it is pretty impressive the township can “do what we do” for $892 per household per year.
Councillors thanked Cheyne for her work but offered no other comments on the budget, which includes the following capital expenses:
– $12,000 for turnstiles and indoor bleachers at the Marden recreational facility;
– $21,065 for upgrades to the township’s website;
– $30,000 for a new front deck mower for the parks department;
– $37,000 for new doors and an HVAC unit at the old Rockwood town hall;
– $45,000 for the Marden Park master plan;
– $50,000 for a new roof and doors at the Marden public works shop;
– $60,000 for testing to determine if upgrades are required for Oliphant Street in Everton;
– $70,000 to expand the parking lot at the Marden Community Centre;
– $80,500 for fire department items such as new bunker gear and portable radios;
– $107,000 to repair a 6th Line bridge;
– $121,800 to reconstruct the Rockwood tennis courts;
– $130,000 for Rockwood street upgrades (Weatherald, Division and Thatcher);
– over $1 million for the water department, including $830,000 for a new well and pumping station for the new Harris Street development in Rockwood;
– $1.4 million to reconstruct and pave Jones Baseline (from County Road 124 to Mill Road); and
– almost $3 million in wastewater items, including a $1.9-million conversion of a pre-treatment plant and $1 million to increase the capacity of pumps and sewers and replace some sewers at the Valley Road facility.
