HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2008-02-28, Page 20PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2008.
Huron East council accepted the
second draft of the budget last week
at their Feb. 19 meeting, with the
larger issues still yet to be discussed.
Deputy-mayor Bernie MacLellan
persisted with his recommendation
of a 10 per cent tax hike, a number
that treasurer Brad Knight has been
working with and he will bring some
numbers back to council at its March
4 meeting. However, while Knight is
currently exploring what that kind of
an increase could mean to the
municipality, it will not be included
in the third draft of the budget that
council will see at its next meeting.
This comes after ratepayers in
Huron East saw a 13 per cent
increase last year, also initially
recommended by MacLellan.
There was a two per cent increase
to the general tax levy in Knight’s
second draft. This brought the levy
from $1,762,500 to $1,815,000, an
increase of $52,500.
Knight included budgets for the
municipality’s community centres,
policing schedules and reserves into
the second draft of the budget, where
they weren’t in the first.
Huron East will have had its audit
completed by its next meeting and
Knight says it will leave the
municipality with a very accurate
idea of its surplus/deficit. Currently,
Knight says he is expecting a small
surplus, that he says, could be used
in conjunction with the $100,000 the
municipality has in police credits to
set up a program to address some
needs found in the building study.
Another big question mark in the
budget is the Brussels Library. With
the level of uncertainty surrounding
it, Knight says in his
recommendation that it may be
impractical to expect construction in
2008, which would turn the
$300,000 allocated for it into surplus
as far as the 2008 books are
concerned. Knight says that the extra
money could be used as a
commitment towards the clinic, but
if the budget is forecasting a
$200,000 deficit, the library project
being moved to 2009 could turn a
red $200,000 into a black $100,000
very quickly.
No final decisions have been made
yet, and budget deliberations will
continue at council’s next meeting.
Questions on the Brussels Library
should be answered soon as the
public meeting to discuss the library
has been set for March 11.
Applications are now being
accepted for the 2008 Summer
Company Program. Run through the
Huron Small Business Enterprise
Centre, with sponsorship from the
Ministry of Small Business and
Entrepreneurship (MSBE), the
Summer Company program aims to
inspire more young people to choose
entrepreneurship as a career and
equip them with the tools they need
to succeed.
Designed for students aged 15-29
who are going back to school full
time, this program provides for up to
$1,500 toward start-up costs and,
upon successful completion of the
program requirements, the student is
eligible for an additional award of up
to $1,500.
Interested students need to submit
a comprehensive business plan with
their application and participate in
an interview process. Training and
mentorship will be provided during
the summer by a volunteer group of
Community Mentors, along with
Alison Lobb, business consultant for
the County of Huron. The mentor
will meet with the young
entrepreneurs on a regular basis
during the summer, assisting them
with the management side of
operating a business.
Application deadline for this
program is April 30.
A second opportunity, the annual
HSBEC Business Plan Competition,
is designed to encourage secondary
school students to learn more about
entrepreneurship through the
creation of an effective business
plan. It encourages youth to consider
entrepreneurship as a possible career
option for the future and give them
practical experience in what is
required for a start-up business.
They should have a better
understanding of the need for careful
planning before investing time and
energy into a business enterprise due
to their formation of a written plan.
The students do not have to run the
business, simply prepare and submit
a formal business plan. The contest
is open to all high school students in
Huron and Perth Counties, and the
plans can be developed as
partnerships or sole proprietorships.
Last year 25 plans were submitted.
With five cash prizes (ranging from
$500 to $100) this is an opportunity
for all enterprising students!
Application for this year’s
competition will be accepted until
Friday, June 6.
For more information on both of
these programs, contact Alison
Lobb, business consultant, with the
Huron Small Business Enterprise
Centre – 519.527.0305, ext. 35 or by
e-mail: alobb@huroncounty.ca
Program ready for applicants
Top speakers
Students at Hullett Central Public School were honoured for their
achievements in speech earlier this month by the Blyth Legion. In the
speakoff, students from Hullett Central Public School competed against
their neighbours to the north from Blyth Public School with four students
receiving honours. From left: Claire Fleming, who came in first in the junior
speeches, Jamie Plaetzer, who came in second in the intermediate
speeches, Danielle Waugh, who came in third in the intermediate speeches
and Ellie Edwards who came in third in the junior speech contest. (Shawn
Loughlin photo)
Congratulations
In the annual speakoff, sponsored by the local legions, students from Blyth
Public School competed against their closest neighbours at Hullett Central
Public School. Blyth placed five students to Hullett’s four. From left: Ben
Stewart, who came in first in the primary speech contest, Eric Steele, who
came in second in the junior contest, Kathryn Peach, who came in first in the
intermediate contest, Logan Chalmers, who came in second in the primary
contest and Morgan Howson, who placed third in the primary competition.
(Shawn Loughlin photo)
404 Queen St., Blyth
519-523-4792
541 Turnberry St., Brussels
519-887-9114
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Huron East considers second budget draft
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen