The Citizen, 2007-02-08, Page 19Planning and priorities. That’s
what North Huron department heads
and councillors are looking at as
budget discussions begin.
Director of finance/treasurer
Donna White said that department
heads met in the fall to look at their
requirements for the upcoming year.
“You can’t call it a wish list, really,”
said White. “No one gets to wish for
much anymore. What they do is take
a hard look at what they really need.
There’s no pie in the sky for
anyone.”
The items are then taken to staff
for feedback, after which a good
deal of time is spent in gathering
estimates to use in the budget.
“Those aren’t what we use,” said
White. “We still have our
procurement policies, such as
whether we tender or can obtain
quotes.”
The process, she said, gives staff
time to evaluate. “There is more to
this than looking at numbers. We are
a service provider. It would be easier
if we had a lot of money, but that’s
not the way it is.”
What council considers at its first
budget meetings can show a
potential increase of 25 to 30 per
cent. The one at the first meeting
Jan. 29 was 17 per cent. “It’s not
realistic, not at all where we’ll end
up.”
It’s not even usually where they
start. “In the past we have tried to
bring one at 10 per cent for the first
go round,” said White. “However
with two new members of council
(reeve Neil Vincent and councillor
Grey McClinchey) we thought it
would be better for them to see how
the process works.”
McClinchey was not present at the
meeting.
Another area of discussion is with
regards to the many old buildings
within the township and the expense
to maintain them. “Council wants to
get into spreading out long-term
priorities,” said White.
When first amalgamated there
were some issues that required a lot
of attention, thus the idea of long-
term planning didn’t happen. “Nowwe are ready.”To that end, White said she would
like to see a percentage of money set
aside for future costs of
replacements to the older buildings.
Another priority in the budget is
economic development. “This has
already been happening with the
web page and brochures.”
Also council is putting focus on
strategic planning. “Things such as
the First Impressions program will
provide good information to us. I
feel good things will come out of it
and the costs are fairly minimal.”
Strengthening ties in the
community with volunteer groups is
also in the plans.
“And another thing this year is to
promote the township beyond local
boundaries,” said White, using such
things as Hockeyville and
Campvention as examples. “The
coverage the township got was
incredible.”
“There is going to be a lot of stress
on marketing therefore. We have a
lot of good facilities in North Huron
and want to see better usage.”
The issue of area rating is also
being reviewed. “In the beginning
there were some things that were
area rated, such as policing,
recycling, landfill and garbage.
However, we are trying to move as
much as possible away from that.”
She adds, however, that it will
never be a total move as there will be
some items, such as policing with
OPP for Blyth and East Wawanosh
and Wingham having its own force,
that will always be area rated.
Landfills is definitely one that will
be reviewed said White and if
removing it from an area rated
system will be a cost savings to the
ratepayers it will be done.
Even when the budget’s set, staff
continues and council continues to
find ways to reduce costs, said
White. “Down the road if we can
realize a benefit on something we do
it.”
While council didn’t quite get
through all the reports at the first
meeting, White said they are ahead
of the game. The next step will be
prioritizing projects and suggestions
that make sense and are affordablefor North Huron. One significant factor for this
year’s budget is a hope for $585,000
in grant funding from and Ontario
infrastructure program. This would
be used for a road and water project
on Dinsley Street in Blyth.
“This was a one-time $70 million
program. Our application is in and if
accepted we have been told we
would have the money by March 31
which is wonderful. Often we don’t
get the money until we’re well into a
project.”
This means the final budget won’t
be passed at least until council
knows if they have received that
funding.
“For now we are proceeding with
outlining our priorities,” said White.
We have started out farther than
we’ll end up. It can be a frustrating
process, but a good one because it
give us an opportunity to review.”
White gives council credit for their
hard work on the budget. “They put
a lot of time into it. They don’t take
it lightly. They’re very involved and
want to do what’s best.”
“They ultimately want to get to a
percentage they can live with. No
one is ever happy with an increase.
Council isn’t either, because they
live here and pay taxes as well. So
they try to come up with something
that’s liveable and will maintain the
services we deliver.”
PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2007.North Huron beginsround of budget talks
The tennis courts at Goderich
District Collegiate Institute will
undergo a $30,000 facelift thanks to
the provincial government’s
Community Use of Schools
initiative.
And a gym divider will be
installed at Elma Central Public
School in Atwood, at a cost of about
$20,000.
Both projects are covered as part
of the Avon Maitland District School
Board’s 2006-07 allotment under the
province’s Community Recreation
and Use Agreements. This year, the
board received a total of $189,493.
“The funding is intended to assist
school boards in increasing
affordable access to school space by
not-for-profit community groups,”
stated a report to trustees at a
meeting Tuesday, Jan. 29.
Following the meeting, education
director Geoff Williams said the
board has always met the intent of
the Community Use of School
initiative, by providing space for
activities in its schools.
“And based on the knowledge that
we already met that intent, we
developed an agreement (with
eligible funding) to help us expand
community use.”
In future years, he noted, the board
hopes to fund further upgrades to
portions of schools that are used by
community groups.
This year, in addition to the two
projects mentioned above, work will
also be done on running tracks in
Stratford, a stage divider will be
installed at Stratford Central
Secondary School, and gym
equipment will be replaced at some
elementary schools.
And the largest sum devoted to
any one use in this year’s allocation
is $50,000 for overtime pay for
school board employees.
Award
Ryan Sholdice, of the Brussels Skating Club was presented
with the award for Level 6 power skating. (Vicky Bremner photo)
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