Only one person showed up for Guelph-Eramosa’s public meeting to discuss the proposed 2017 budget.
On Feb. 2 finance director Linda Cheyne presented an overview of the proposed budget, which represented a 1.99 per cent hike to municipal taxes, compared to a 7.64% increase in 2016.
The total proposed budget for 2017 is about $21.5 million with $6.3 million being raised through property taxes, up from last year’s $6.1 million.
The township is continuing with its separate infrastructure renewal charge, which will raise $143,870 through taxes this year.
The township will also be receiving $205,742 in Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) formula based funding.
“We are dedicating additional operational funding for road and bridge maintenance to help sustain the condition of our infrastructure,” Cheyne said.
Under the proposed budget, taxes will increase $5.42 for every $100,000 worth of property assessment. That means an average home worth $450,000 would see a $25 increase in taxes.
This hike will raise an additional $121,926 through property taxes.
“We will collect just over $15 million in revenues from user fees … penalty and interest and funding for capital through long-term debt, development charges and reserves,” Cheyne said.
“We are not recommending reducing our current levels of service.”
One of the biggest overall changes contributing to Guelph-Eramosa’s 2% tax hike is a 14% increase in hydro costs, Cheyne explained.
The public works department accounts for 45% of the budget, parks and recreation 23%, protection of persons and property 17%, general government 13% and planning 2%.
Roads
The proposed roads budget is $6.1 million with $3 million raised through taxation.
Budget highlights include:
– the reconstruction of Guelph Road 1 from Paisley Road to Wellington Road 124 for $925,000 from the gas tax rebate;
– the bridge replacement on Township Road 3 north of Highway 7 for $532,000, proposed to come from OCIF top up and reserves;
– patching along the edge of the existing road treatment on a 2.82-km stretch of 7th Line north of Wellington Road 50 for $174,000, which will be funded through the gas tax rebate;
– resurfacing Sideroad 20 east from 5th Line to 6th Line for $42,000 from OCIF;
– resurfacing 6th Line East from Wellington Road 51 to Sideroad 16 for $50,000 from OCIF and from Sideroad 16 to 14 for $40,000 from reserves;
– reconstruction of York Street in Eden Mills from Cedar Street to Chapel Street for $109,000 from OCIF;
– installation of LED lights in streetlights in Rockwood for $330,000 from long-term debt financing; and
– updating the roads needs study using $40,000 from reserves.
Parks and recreation
The proposed parks and recreation budget is $3.1 million with about $1 million coming from taxation.
Budget highlights include:
– about $1 million in Rockmosa Park development projects, with $945,010 coming from development charges, $10,000 coming from the county Accessibility Fund and $50,000 coming from the county trail fund (this includes setting up site services, grading, sewage and wastewater servicing, fencing, trail development, parking and Sports fields);
– the Rockmosa skate park will likely be complete by the beginning of the summer, according to director of public works Robin Milne. The project will cost $321,850 this year with no money coming from taxation, but a draw of $124,100 from the Rockwood Hydro Fund and a $116,550 Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program grant;
– the refurbishment of splash pad features for $20,000 from the general parks reserves;
– the purchase of a 2017 mini-van to replace a 2002 pickup for $35,000 from equipment reserves for parks; and
– the removal of outfield lights from Memorial Park in Eden Mills. Three lights will be repositioned and remain to light the toboggan hill and ice rink in the ball diamond’s infield for $10,000.
Fire department
The fire department has a proposed budget of about $963,489.
Budget highlights include:
– a mobile data unit for each fire truck that will allow firefighters to receive real-time information and maps about emergencies. The cost is $12,500 from reserves;
– transferring dispatching responsibilities to Guelph dispatch. Right now the first firefighter arriving at the hall takes over dispatching responsibilities. To free that person up to attend the emergency faster the fire department is recommending that Guelph dispatch take over all services. The cost will be $12,000 from reserves; and
– the purchase of a new tanker truck that was approved last year. The truck is replacing a truck from 1989 and will give the fire department a superior tanker shuttle accreditation status. In October council approved the $450,000 truck and it is funded through reserves.
Building department
The building department is completely funded by permit fees.
Budget highlights include:
– hiring a new full-time administrative assistant for a total cost of $67,137; and
– acquiring new software for electronic records management that can be managed in the field (“When they’re out doing an inspection they can file the reports and make it available immediately to the homeowner and the builder,” Cheyne said).
The total budget for water and wastewater services is $7.8 million. This is primarily a user-funded department.
Budget highlights include:
– hiring an additional operator so he/she is trained properly before two people close to retirement age retire;
– construction of the new pump house for the Seaton well in Rockwood. The project will cost $1.2 million in long-term debt;
– building a new office or facility for water/wastewater staff, including offices, showers, laundry, a small garage and storage items. The cost is $80,000 from water financing;
– the design and construction of a secondary watermain connection between north and south Rockwood from Richardson Street to Valley Road. This will provide redundancy for fire protection and operations or maintenance activities. The cost is $516,000 from reserves and grants (“This is also one of the projects that we’ve applied for funding for so we’re hoping to get that money as well,” Cheyne said);
– upgrades to the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (SCADA) for $30,500 from reserves; and
– funding for the final year of a multi-year construction project to build the Alma Street wastewater pretreatment facility and trunk sewer upgrades. The project will cost $3.1 million this year.
