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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2015-02-11, Page 1212 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, February 11, 2015 County council seeking two per cent increase for 2015 budget Dave Flaherty Huron Expositor County staff has received its marching orders to bring the 2015 budget down to a two per cent increase. At the Feb. 4 county council meeting, staff brought forward the draft budget which repre- sented a 5.45 per cent increase according to treasurer Michael Blumhagen. CAO Brenda Orchard said they were looking for some direction on what increase council would be comfortable with. Eventually, Howick Reeve Art Versteeg put forth a motion instructing staff to come back with the two per cent target, which was passed, but not before a great amount of discussion. Blumhagen said as of the end of 2014 the county had approxi- mately $42 million in reserves, but he advised against council continually dipping into them for funding. He said Huron County is fac- ing a number of large capital expenditures over the next decade. For example, he said there is an estimated $26 million in improvements that need to be made to county bridges by 2030. Huron East Mayor Bernie MacLellan commented that the budget process has been the same for about 25 years but he believes there needs to be more planning for the future. "Since we have such a huge reserve could we not move some of the funds into individual departments," he asked. "Work- ing on a game plan... wouldn't that help us?" Blumhagen agreed that future sustainability is something that needs to become a priority. MacLellan also questioned $300,000 in salary increases for 46 county employees. "Something seems to be miss- ing here." However, Jane Anderson, human resources director, explained that the raises were only for positions that haven taken on more responsibility. MacLellan said while he understood that, he believes the budget needs to be looked at from a "taxpayer's position" and there are many people who have been "financially hardshipped': "There are people at the hos- pitals who work for the province seaforthhuronexpositor.com 2015 SEAFORTH SCREAMIN' EAGLES TRAVEL AND HOUSE LEAGUE SOCCER REGISTRATION Saturday, February 14, 2015 9:OOam - 1:OOpm • Wednesday February 18, 2015 6:OOpm - 8:OOpm • Seaforth Arena Travel Team Information Teams will play in the North Huron Soccer League. Home games will be at Seaforth Public School field and teams will visit any of the following centres - St. Columban, Clinton, Wingham, Brussels, Lucknow, Blyth, Teeswater, Bayfield, and Goderich. Practices will begin in March with games starting in May and ending in early August. Same gender teams will be offered for U9, U11, U13, U15, and U18 (Birth years between 1997-2007). Travel soccer registration deadline is February 28th, 2015. Participants who register after the deadline will be subject to a Late Registration Fee of $50 and will only be accepted if space is available on the travel team in question. Shin pads are mandatory as well as black shorts and black socks. A jersey will be provided as per uniform deposit policy. House League Information Games will be played in Seaforth at St. James Field and co-ed teams will be offered for children with the birth years of 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012. The house league program will run on Tuesdays from May 26th to July 28th. Registration forms can be picked up/dropped off or mailed to Dan & Carolyn Bachert - 18 Roxboro Line, RR# 2 Seaforth, NOK 1 WO until April 15th Costs Travel: Under 9 Boys (born in 2006, 2007) - $70 Under 11 Boys (born in 2004, 2005) - $80 Under 13 Boys (born in 2002, 2003) - $90 Under 15 Boys (born in 2000, 2001) - $100 Under 18 Boys (born in 1997, 1998, 1999) - $125 Under 9 Girls (born in 2006, 2007) - $70 Under 11 Girls (born in 2004, 2005) - $80 Under 13 Girls (born in 2002, 2003) - $90 Under 15 Girls (born in 2000, 2001) - $100 Under 18 Girls (born in 1997, 1998, 1999) - $125 House League: U5 - Coed teams (born in 2010, 2011) - $55 includes team photo U8 - Coed teams (born in 2007, 2008, 2009) - $65 includes team photo Volunteers will be needed to coach and assist for every team represented if the team is to function. Registration will take place at arena on dates listed above. For more information and registration forms please contact Dan & Carolyn Bachert at 519-522-0114 or 519-440-9332 who haven't gotten a raise in seven years," he said. "I'm ques- tioning whether we need to knuckle down and even chal- lenge some of these union groups. We are zipping out increases every year." Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh Reeve Ben Van Diepenbeek said the problem is the Pay Equity Act. Versteeg said legislation has "ratcheted up public salaries over the past 30 to 40 years': "The public sector is gaining one per cent a year on the pri- vate sector. I don't think we are going to solve it - it is an ongo- ing issue," he said. Blumhagen said staff were anticipating that council would be looking for further reduc- tions in the budget, so he pre- pared a list of items to be taken out. These included advanced care paramedic training for Huron County EMS, a proposed gala for EMS employees and reductions in the consulting services budget. Goderich Deputy Mayor Jim Donnelly said the budget should be driven by "governance" not "management suggestions." Van Diepenbeek said he didn't want to see money com- ing out of reserves. "I want see substantial cuts," he said. Huron East Deputy Mayor Joe Steffler suggested using the 2014 surplus to help mitigate some of the costs in this year's budget. Bluewater Mayor Tyler Hessel had initially indicated he was "torn" about giving specific fig- ures to staff. "We are voting on recommen- dations, we need to make a decision. We need to do our job," he said. Furthermore, he told his fel- low councillors they need to start thinking about future budgets as well, something he is developing within his own council. The Seaforth and District Community Centre Arena on Feb. 6, the first day of the Doug Perkes Memorial Tournament. Scoreboard Seaforth Minor Hockey Feb. 7 Novice LL 1 - 2 Blyth -Brussels Crusaders Blyth Arena Pee Wee LL Centennial Windows 9 - 2 East Lambton Eagles Seaforth Arena Pee Wee LL Centennial Windows 5 - 2 Petrolia Oilers Seaforth Arena Feb. 6 Pee Wee LL Centennial Windows 9 - 2 Petrolia Oilers Seaforth Arena Pee Wee Rep Centennial Win- dows 3 - 4 Drayton Defenders PMD Arena Feb. 2 Pee Wee Rep Centennial Win- dows 5 - 4 Drayton Defenders Seaforth Arena Feb. 1 Novice LL 0 - 4 BCH Ice Dogs 1 Bayfield Arena Novice Rep 5 - 3 Wingham Ironmen Wingham Arena