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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2012-03-22, Page 17THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2012. PAGE 17. Budget approved with 2.93 per cent increaseContinued from page 1it might be four years before they arecaught,” she said. “Older homes canbe under-assessed for decades if they are lived in by the same family.” Taxes are also higher because of the low assessment or absence of farm houses on farm properties and due to North Huron’s low population and services that are shared to non- residents at little to no extra cost. “In Huron County North Huron has the second lowest taxable assessment and third lowest population but we provide services on par with the higher centres,” she said. The 2.92 per cent increase was implemented to off-set a three per cent inflation rate according to White, who said that if the increased equipment and consumable costs like fuel were taken out of the budget it would have resulted in no increase in municipal spending at all. Special area rates will be applied against Wingham, Blyth and East Wawanosh Wards generating approximately $1,300,000 for area-specific costs.Wingham Ward residents will pay$1,145,956 in area-rated fees for the Wingham Police Department, street lights and the long term debt on the North Huron Wescast Community Complex. Blyth Ward residents will pay $118,000 for their Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) presence and street lights and East Wawanosh Ward residents will pay an additional $62,000 for the OPP presence in their ward. Highlights outlined by White include a pumper/tanker truck for the Fire Department of North Huron which was paid for completely out of reserves resulting in no additional costs, the North Huron Fire Department and the Emergency Services Training Centre in Blyth being brought completely online, proposed police station entrance renovations in Wingham, phase two of the Josephine Street Reconstruction in Wingham as well as the renovation of North Street in Wingham which is a joint projectbetween North Huron and Morris-Turnberry, two new pickup trucksfor municipal use, a roof replacement and ice edger for the Blyth and District Community Centre, new testing wells at the two landfills in North Huron and new sidewalks being built on John Street to accommodate the planned Maitland River Elementary School. Major costs from the budget include the following: • The Josephine Street phase two reconstruction which will cost approximately $1,800,000. • Full-time salaries and benefits of Road Department workers which are estimated to cost $755,000. • The Josephine Street sewer which is estimated to cost $120,000. • Transfers to the water department’s long-term reserve ($205,000) and the Sanitary Sewer long-term reserve ($198,000). • Full-time child care salaries and benefits which will cost approximately $525,000. • Full-time administration salariesand benefits which are estimated tocost $468,000.• Full-time benefits and salaries for police which will cost approximately $772,000. • A $159,000 principal payment and $20,000 interest payment against the long-term loan for the North Huron Wescast Community Complex. White explained that the township is a service provider and that 45 per cent of the operational expenditures for the 2012 budgets is salaries, wages, benefits and council honorariums. Wages and benefits account for approximately $4,749,000 of the budget. Questions following the presentation revolved around the cost of employees and the number of employees the municipality has. Deputy-Clerk Kathy Adams stated that the township has 55 full-time employees including the Wingham Police Department and every two weeks pay approximately 50 part- time employees. She stated thatthere are 100 part-time employeeson payroll but many are seasonal.Councillor Alma Conn pointed out that, as of 2015, the tax rate in Wingham should drop as the final payment on the debt of the North Huron Westcast Community Complex should be paid in 2014. “In theory, taxes should go down,” Conn said. White agreed, stating that it would only affect Wingham Ward. During the following regular council meeting, North Huron council adopted the draft budget in principal pending county and education rates. 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