by CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
COBDEN — Whitewater Region’s treasurer is going to be crunching numbers once again over the next week.
Marsha Hawthorne presented the full budget to council during a special budget meeting last night. When the meeting started, council needed to find $928,415.76. This was the amount required to have a balanced budget, but it was before taking any money out of reserves, she noted.
Expenses totalled $8,899,047.76 when council began reviewing the budget. Three hours later, the expenses were down to $8,669,647.76, but more still needs to be cut.
The revenue side, even after review, showed there was a difference of just over $460,000 in order for the budget to balance.
Council agreed that Ms. Hawthorne, along with corporate services chair Councillor Charlene Jackson, will work together to find the $460,000, whether it be with a tax increase, taking money out of reserves, making more cuts, or a combination.
Councillor Daryl McLaughlin noted there is a five percent increase alone in the police budget. In 2015, the actual spent was $722,501, while this year it’s estimated at $951,912, which also includes $250 set aside for committee expenses.
“That’s a big number we’re passing on,” he said.
Coun. Jackson noted if that amount isn’t passed on to the taxpayers this year, there will be a bigger hit next year.
Mayor Hal Johnson is hopeful residents, not only in Whitewater Region, but throughout the province, will realize just how expensive policing is.
“There is no way we can continue to absorb those costs,” he said.
One way of curbing the police budget for this municipality is less calls to 911, the mayor said. However, he’s talking about the non-emergency calls. If someone feels they need to call 911, then go ahead, he said. But, just remember, each time 911 is called from a phone in Whitewater Region, policing costs increase.
If it’s not an emergency, Mayor Johnson said people can call the detachment or the number associated with the concern the resident has, such as the fraud line.
Council members may also be sitting a bit more comfortable later this year. Ms. Hawthorne budgeted $4,000 for 11 new chairs in the council chambers. Currently, there’s a mish-mash of chairs being used, some of them emitting a noise when moved.
There is also another $17,500 set aside for new desks with electric outlets. While it’s not possible for the public to see the current tables where the council chairs are located, there have been a few bruised knees from how the tables have been put together. These are the same tables used by the former Cobden council, when each council member had a table.
Chief Administrative Officer Christine FitzSimons noted the township’s website needs to be made more accessible, and budgeted $13,000. While she advised council the current webmaster is familiar with the site and has begun the revamping, council asked her to put an upcoming meeting on hold.
Coun. Jackson felt the webmaster should be put out to tender or at least request for proposal be issued, since it is a major expense.
“That’s a large amount of money and there are cheaper ones out there,” she said.
She noted a company representative had approached her and asked that when the request for proposal was being issued, he would like to be invited.
Chief Building Office and Bylaw Enforcement Officer Doug Schultz is having a hard time getting time away from the office. It was noted that Jim McBain’s company may be requested to take over the dog calls on weekends. CAO FitzSimons said Mr. Schultz has been called out the last three weekends regarding loose dogs in the municipality.
It was agreed that the bylaw regarding dog tags will be enforced, which means if a dog owner has not purchased a dog tag, a warning letter will be sent. If that still doesn’t entice the owner to purchase a dog tag, a fine will be issued.
Coun. Jackson said there’s no sense having a bylaw if it’s not going to be enforced.
Some of the department budgets, some of them to be changed, include administration at approximately $95,835; council at $25,000; fire at $700,091; police at $952,162; emergency at $8,200; building at $134,688; animal control at $29,703; enforcement at $8,000; lottery at $100; planning at $86,800; roads, about $4 million; street lights $115,70; crossing guards $21,862; recycling $199,500; landfill about $507,000; parks $77,277; tourist booth about $70,000; beach about $15,000; boat launches at $4,000; tourism at $13,000; health services at $1,930; library $52,000; recreation $160,000; museum around $7,500; industrial park about $50,000; drainage at $130,000 and transfer at $200,000.
The revenue side includes, which can also be changed prior to the budget being passed, includes taxation at $4,292,917; grant in lieu of taxes $121,000; provincial grants at $1,192,133; federal grants at $320,000; administration fees $236,000; sales at $4,700; fire at $122,000; building at $61,000; animal control at $20,000; planning $12,700 and roads $621,000.
While CAO FitzSimons was hopeful of passing the budget at the May 17 council meeting, Coun. Jackson said that won’t happen.
Tax rates must be set by June 15. It’s expected council will review the budget at the May 17 council meeting, and then pass it at a special council meeting on June 1, which is also the night of council-in-committee meetings.
