by Connie Tabbert
Editor
COBDEN — Whitewater Region Township council left a budget meeting a week ago knowing it still needed to find $965,000 to balance the proposed 2015 budget.
Without taking any money out of the expenses, and not generating any more revenue, that would mean a municipal levy increase of 23 per cent. To lower the tax increase by one per cent, means cutting about $42,000. So, if council wanted a five per cent increase it would still have to find $755,000 to cut.
Treasurer Marsha Hawthorne reviewed a portion of the budget at a second budget meeting. A third budget meeting will be held next Wednesday, May 27, starting at 5 p.m.
“It’s been an interesting couple of months,” Ms. Hawthorne said, noting this is the first time she is presenting the budget. She took over the treasurer’s position in July 2014.
She warned council, “Some projects must come out to balance the budget.”
To begin the meeting, the budget expenditure was set at $8,691,329.49. In breaking it down, Ms. Hawthorne noted the general government totalled $1,331,140.75; protective services $1,428,585; transportation services $4,367,936; environmental services $784,739; recreation and culture $479,492.74 and planning and development $299,436.
Council reviewed various departments, including council, which has expenditures of $145,472. The public relations budget for council is set at $8,700, much of it due to the world kayaking event happening in late August.
The township will be providing hand-sized township flags for people to wave during the Opening Parade, she said.
Standard-sized township flags also need to be ordered, noted Chief Administrative Officer Christine FitzSimons. Then there’s all the little items as well, such as candy to toss off the council float when it’s used in various parades and float decorations, she added.
The agenda delivery to council members is $1,000, with an expenditure of $6,200 for photocopying. Ms. Hawthorne is hopeful those numbers will decrease once council goes electronic. Also in the budget is an expenditure of $10,000 for Ipads for council, but this is in the administrative budget, not council.
The Muskrat Watershed Council is hoping for $5,000 from council. It agreed to the expenditure, but with guidelines on how to spend it.
Reeve Terry Millar noted 60 per cent of the problem is Snake River. He would like to see the money going towards doing something to cut down the phosphates, not more studies.
While it’s great council can advise them what to do with the money, once it’s in the MWC’s account, it can be spent however that council determines, noted Councillor Charlene Jackson. It was agreed to budget the $5,000, but only give them $2,500. This way council can determine the money is being spent on doing something, not more studies.
Other expenditures in the general account includes $470,000 in salaries; $10,000 for education, seminars and workshops; $16,000 in tax write-offs; $10,000 each in economic development and capital expenditures; and $386,000 for cleaning and overhead costs, such as electricity, water and sewer.
CAO FitzSimons noted the cost includes a new phone system, because the former one crashed.
The fire services budget includes $200,000 for salaries; $18,000 for inspections; $10,000 for education, seminars and workshops; $5,000 for legal; $15,000 for equipment repairs and maintenance; $20,000 for truck expenses; $60,000 for building repairs and maintenance and $165,550 for capital expenditures, which includes $80,000 towards the unfinanced portion of the new fire truck purchased in 2013.
The policing budget is set at $721,933. However, this amount includes a reconciliation cheque of $53,000 from last year’s policing expenses, Ms. Hawthorne said. Whether there will be reconciliation amounts for this year won’t be known until later this year or next year, she explained.
The building department, animal control, enforcement, lottery and planning totals $184,350.
The roads department budget is $5,067,367. This includes $715,000 in salaries plus another $50,000 for part-time salaries.
There were questions regarding hiring two part-time staff for June through to November, considering the department also has two summer students.
“What do you do with the extra men,” questioned Coun. Jackson.
Public works manager Bill Misener said, “There’s always lots to be done.”
She replied, “I expect to see lots of things happening on our roads this summer.”
The fuel and oil budget is set at $180,000. Mr. Misener said the department has been using the same contractor for years. This year it may be tendered out, he added.
Capital equipment has been budgeted for $620,000 and $2,056,000 for major road construction.
The roads slated for construction include Rapid Road, Cornerview Road, St. Augustine Drive, Grants Settlement Road, Bromley Line and Snake River Line.
But there are more expenses than just roads, including office, garage, truck, legal, tools, signs, tree trimming, grass cutting, education and so much more.
Council had some major discussion regarding this budget, and was able to cut out some expenses, shaving it down to $1,234,000. But, it was noted, there could be more cuts, because money still needs to be found to cut down the municipal tax levy to property owners.
Noting the contracting fee of $10,000 for tree trimming, Mr. Misener said that’s for problem trees where a crane is required because a tree is too close to hydro wires or homes.
Coun. Jackson said Hydro One will cut those trees down for free.
However, Mr. Misener said there are some trees public works staff should be able to cut down, it’s just that he doesn’t “feel comfortable” with having staff take them down due to safety concerns.
There is $35,000 set aside in the miscellanous account, which may be used for poison ivy control along Lacroix Bay Road near La Passe.
Mr. Misener said residents in the area were going to send a letter to council requesting the poison ivy be removed.
His concern is the township has nothing for weed control and there are many issues with spraying the ditches. The spray used on poison ivy is very effective he said, adding, “It’s strong stuff. It kills everything. There will be no vegetation left.”
Councillor Daryl McLaughlin said there could be more requests for removal of noxious weeds if council agrees to do it in one area.
Councillor Dave Mackay said, “Tell them to stay out of the ditches.”
Mayor Hal Johnson said the township did spray for poison ivy between 2001 and 2003, but the lobby groups were strong and the township ceased spraying.
“It’s a tremendous problem for those who have it,” he said.
Council agreed to have the county weed inspector come to a meeting to discuss who is responsible for what regarding weeds.
The crossing guard budget of $22,000 also brought discussion from council.
“This is a pet peeve with me,” said Mayor Johnson.
The county used to pay for this service and downloaded it to the municipalities, but it should be in the jurisdiction of the school board, he said.
There are currently three crossing guards, all in Cobden, and the salaries total $19,000.
Coun. Jackson noted it’s a council decision if crossing guards are removed or remain where they are.
Councillor Chris Olmstead, who has children going to the school, said he would pay $7,000 out of pocket to keep his children safe.
Councillor Cathy Regier noted it’s “pretty scarey” in Beachburg and there are no crossing guards. She suggested moving one of the crossing guard positions to Beachburg.
Mayor Johson said he’s not in favour of removing them, but it’s just in the wrong budget. Crossing guards are also needed in Westmeath, he added.
Coun. Jackson suggested for the 2015-16 school year, there be a crossing guard position in Beachburg and two in Cobden.
Coun. McLaughlin suggested the crossing guard situation be further discussed during a corporate services committee meeting.
The landfill budget totals $784,530. This includes recycling and all three landfills — Ross (current one), Cobden and Westmeath.
The recreation budget of $193,343 includes parks, tourist booth, tourism, beach and boat launches. Expenses budgeted include salaries, bird nuisance, new Christmas lights for Beachburg, water line repairs, a reserve fund and miscellaneous.
Other budgets include $20,761 in health services; $124,259 for the library, of which $73,000 is for renovations at the Foresters Falls Library but is totally covered with an Ontario Trillium grant; $92,030 for recreation (arenas, etc.); $6,424 for the Ross Museum (Whitewater Historical Society); $42,675 for the Industrial Park and $117,086 for drainage.
Winding down the meeting, Ms. Hawthorne noted $965,094.49 is required to balance the budget. For every $41,267 required, there will be a one per cent increase. As an example, she noted if there’s a four per cent increase, that means $165,150 will be realized, but that still leaves a shortfall of almost $800,000.
Ms. FitzSimons noted the county and school board levies decreased, which helps, but there is also the phased in growth of market value.
When discussing when council could get together for a third budget meeting, she noted the budget has to be passed by June 15, so the update can be included in the next issuance of tax bills.
Coun. McLaughlin suggested starting in the afternoon, because “I don’t like dealing with big numbers after 8 p.m. We need sharp minds.”
Mayor Johnson suggested the meeting start earlier and as the council members become available they could join in the meeting, since it wouldn’t be possible for all of them to be there in the afternoon, mostly due to work commitments.
Coun. McLaughlin disagreed.
“No, everyone needs to be here,” he said. “These are very important meetings with lots of figures.”
It was agreed to meet at 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 27. The reserves and revenue budgets will also be presented, giving council a full picture of the 2015 budget.
