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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2016-04-14, Page 20PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016. HE wards' taxes to increase 7.09 to 11.95 per cent Huron East Council officially passed its budget on April 5 and as a result, taxes will rise between $128 and $204 on an average home in the municipality, depending on the ward. Overall ward tax increases are 7.09 per cent in Seaforth, 8.85 per cent in Brussels, 10.10 per cent in Tuckersmith, 10.43 per cent in Grey and 11.95 per cent in McKillop. While minor alterations have been made to the budget since it was first presented to council in February, the process began with a high proposed tax increase. The increase to the municipal portion of the budget is 20.2 per cent, while the Huron County levy is increasing 3.49 per cent. The education levy, while still not yet finalized, is estimated to increase one per cent. Forty-four per cent of the total tax levy goes to Huron East, while 38 per cent goes to Huron County and the remaining 18 per cent goes to local education boards. Treasurer Paula Michiels said that the range of taxation increase has very much to do with how farmland is now being taxed, which is why the municipality's three rural wards are seeing the highest increases. Municipal portion tax increases on $100,000 of residential assessment in 2016 over 2015 levels are: $98.84 in Brussels, $76.41 in Seaforth, $68.94 in Grey, $64 in Tuckersmith and $57.72 in McKillop. This year's budget includes expenditures of $14 million and an increase of $690,588 to the general municipal levies. Municipal reserve levels will Local favourites The Snell Family Singers were the musical guests last week as the Londesborough United Church Women played host to the Huron -Perth Presbyterial's Spring Fling. Bev Hagedorn, executive director of Shelter Link in Stratford was the evening's guest speaker. The Snell family is, from left, Rob Snell, Barb Bosman, Bette Jewitt and Bonnie Jewitt. (Vicky Bremner photo) decline slightly as a result of the budget, however, from $9.4 million to $9 million. In her presentation, Michiels said that the main utilization of 2016 reserves is for funding for the 2015/2016 LED street lighting conversion project. As part of her presentation, Michiels also detailed the historical budget process, reminding councillors of where the budget process began and the challenges the municipality, and its staff, faced before presenting even the first draft of the budget. When the first draft of the budget was presented to councillors on Feb. 16, Michiels explained that the municipal tax levy would have to increase 15.4 per cent, or $485,588, simply to get the municipality to where it began 2015. That figure, Michiels said, would only cover the $294,200 decrease in Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF) money and a proposed increase of $191,388 to Huron East's OPP costs. Two major equipment purchases were also included in the first draft of the budget, a one -ton truck for $45,000 and a new backhoe for $135,000. Both were quickly dropped from the budget. At the time, Michiels also acknowledged that staff members had worked to cut $2.5 million from the budget before it even made its way to councillors in the form of a first draft. Recreation costs generated a great deal of conversation during the budget deliberations of the past two months. Michiels said the municipality's three centres would receive a number of provisions as a result of continued challenges meeting budgets. In her presentation, she said that levies were adjusted for both the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre and the Seaforth and District Community Centre for their dependance on hydro, costs of which are on the rise. The recreation department was then provided with a five per cent levy increase and special capital levies were provided to each centre: $27,944 for the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre; $24,923 for the Vanastra Recreation Centre and $22,657 for the Seaforth and District Community Centre. Factoring in all of the special provisions provided to the centres, Michiels told councillors, recreation levies increased in 2016 by 34.2 per cent for the Seaforth centre, 30 per cent for the Brussels centre and 21.7 per cent for the Vanastra centre. Late in the budget process, councillors proposed implementing a $15/hour increase to ice rental rates in both Brussels and Seaforth. According to estimates, the change would provide $9,159 in additional revenue in Seaforth and $5,418 in Brussels to help reduce their accumulated deficits in the 2016/2017 seasons. Councillors, however, felt the budget process had progressed too far and didn't implement the suggested rate increases into this year's budget. With councillors approving the final draft of the budget at last week's public meeting, a bylaw is now being prepared and will on the table for final adoption at council's April 19 meeting. Council heeds residents' concerns, cuts grant budget Continued from page 1 Department of North Huron, the Blyth Well project, Wingham Water Tower, the first phase of the Blyth Community Memorial Hall renovations, the Westmoreland Street project and the pool liner and roof repairs at the Wescast complex. For full details on these projects costs, view the draft budget available on the township's website at northhuron.ca White broke down the costs for the municipality as well as why people might consider the taxes high, pointing to the fact the municipality provides facilities, services and programs that would normally be attributed to a much larger municipality. Council spent significant time dealing with what is called the Community Partnerships portion of the budget, which includes donations or sponsorships the municipality provides. After approving several donations at a previous budget meeting, each councillor reported they were contacted by ratepayers who were concerned with the amount being given by the municipality. Among those making comments were the Blyth and Wingham Business Improvement Areas (BIAS), who said the municipality should not be donating funds they don't have and increasing taxes to compensate. Council decided to deal with each donation to determine the necessity of each. HOSPITAL DONATION Council had previously decided to donate $450,000 to the Wingham Hospital Foundation over seven years, however, with time and having heard the concerns of ratepayers, council had trouble justifying the expense. In the end, many councillors had stated they wanted to support the foundation, however they didn't know that $65,000 per year was the right number. Both the Wingham BIA and Blyth BIA's representatives stated they felt that any donation should not be made from tax dollars. While they, and many others touted the benefits of the hospital, they also stated money should be given not from the municipality but from individuals, a sentiment that several councillors echoed. Whether the donation is included is one of two issues set to be discussed at the next meeting on April 18, the other of which is Councillor Ray Hallahan's desire to have more capital projects in East Wawanosh included after a delegation from the ward explained the "deplorable" condition of the roads. BLYTH BIA Previously, the Blyth BIA had requested $5,000 to hire a marketing professional for the organization. The BIA would provide funds and, with the support of the township, would hopefully receive funds from Huron County. After some discussion with staff, however, Chair Rick Elliott rescinded the request. BUILDING BRIDGES GROUP The Building Bridges to our Future committee, a group dedicated to improving the grounds around F.E. Madill Secondary School and Maitland River Elementary School, had requested $40,000 from the municipality, however in its previous meeting council decided to give $15,000 over two years. After some discussion, council decided to remove the donation from the budget. GOLF AND CURLING CLUB The Wingham Golf and Curling Club had requested $5,000 from the township to help replace its brine chiller unit which allows the club to maintain its curling rink. Council decided during its earlier budget meeting to only give $1,000, citing the fact that the facility is in Morris-Turnberry and isn't a municipal facility. After some discussion, council removed the donation from the budget. GODERICH LEGION The Goderich Legion had requested $1,000 from the municipality to help place a monument to soldiers who had served in Afghanistan. Council decided not to donate to the effort. RURAL TALKS TO RURAL The Blyth Arts and Cultural Initiative 14/19 Inc. requested that North Huron become a sponsor for its upcoming Rural Talks to Rural Conference. The event, which will be held in Blyth, found some support with councillors who decided to donate $1,000 to the event. Whether that amount was a straight donation or included in-kind services, which the township has already been providing, was not made clear during the meeting. OTHER DONATIONS North Huron Council also dealt with a list of smaller donations that were made in accordance with the municipality's new policy that dictates funding requests need to be requested, in writing, by Nov. 1 of the year before the event. Council approved donations to the following groups in the following amounts as part of that list: • The Belgrave Elementary School fair will receive $300. • The Blyth Festival will receive $1,000 for operating the North Huron Tourism Booth at the Blyth Centre for the Arts, not the requested $2,000. • The Blyth Festival will receive $1,500 for its Professional Arts - Youth Outreach Program, not the requested $2,000. • The Wingham Horticultural Society will receive $750. • The Huron County Plowing Match will receive $125. • The United Way of Perth -Huron will receive $500. • The North Huron Community Food Bank will receive $500. • St. John Ambulance will receive funding from North Huron, however a final number was not established. Several historic sums were also earmarked for organizations that typically seek financial support from the municipality if the groups contacted staff. For more information on the final budget and how it will affect individual ratepayers, see the April 21 issue of The Citizen. The most important meal The Auburn Lions Club held its monthly breakfast on Sunday and it was, as it always is, well attended. Serving up meals for the dozens who made the trip out on the cool day were Edgar Daer, left, and Janette Plaetzer. (Vicky Bremner photo)