HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-03-26, Page 24At least one North Huron
councillor had some thoughts to
share at its March 16 meeting
regarding the Maitland Valley
Conservation Authority’s proposed
budget.
Councillor Jim Campbell, who
sits on the MVCA board as the
township’s representative opened
discussion asking his colleagues on
council for their views, as he would
be voting on the budget later that
week.
MVCA was proposing an
increase of over seven per cent, a
number that didn’t sit that well with
the majority of councillors present.
“The work they do is useful, so I
don’t want what I say to be
misconstrued,” began councillor
Greg McClinchey, “and while 7.2
per cent in dollar value is
reasonably small, that kind of
increase has been requested over
several years while the rest of us
struggle to keep the increase lower.”
Questioning whether the work the
MVCA had outlined in the budget
was crucial projects, and
commenting on the economic
situation, McClinchey added, “This
may not be the time to expand their
mandate. To have an increase that’s
routinely that high is something our
taxpayers wouldn’t accept on the
general taxes.”
Campbell said that the MVCA
had put off a number of projects that
need to be done and were now
playing catch up. “They’ve got
caught and now for two years have
been trying to bring things in line.”
McClinchey asked what the mood
was as far as council representatives
from other municipalities.
“I know there are others who
don’t support the budget,” said
Campbell.
Deputy-reeve Murray Scott said
he didn’t have a problem if the
budget passed, but understood
McClinchey’s concerns.
“I don’t think we need to bring
the hammer down,” said
McClinchey, “but the message
needs to be sent to everyone that
seven per cent is not okay. There
needs to be a strong message that
those kinds of increases are not
appropriate on a go-forward basis.”
The budget, with a 7.99 per cent
increase did pass on March 28, by
majority, but not without some
reluctance. “It was brought up that
next year this kind of increase won’t
happen,” said Campbell in a phone
interview Monday.
PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2009.
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NH councillor shares thoughtson MVCA budget
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