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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1987-03-11, Page 1County must trim budget or see 11% increase Faced with a possible 11.75 per cent budget increase for 1987, Huron County council has been asked for budget cutting direction from its executive committee. The committee has the formid­ able task of preparing a final budget proposal for council’s approval at a special meeting serving Brussels, uiytn, Auourn, ueigrave, tinei, Londesborough, Walton and surrounding townships. VOL 3 NO. 10 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 1987.40 CENTS Having to take a bath in public is bad enough, but when you are freezing to death as well, the act calls for courage far beyond the cal) of duty. These girls were performing the number called “Splish Splash” at the Blyth Figure Skating Club’s Carnival on Friday. From left, the girls are Rachel Arthur, Erica Clark, Charlene Hulzebos, Tina Burkholder and Kimberley Ferguson. Riddell chosen Liberal candidate for Huron Ontario’s minister of agriculture and food Jack Riddell was un­ opposed in his bid for the nomination in the new provincial riding of Huron, aneventthat came as no surprise to more than 200 enthusiastic supporters at the nomination meeting in Clinton last Thursday. The crowd of well-wishers gave Mr. Riddell a standing ovation as he approached the podium to make his acceptance speech, and again when he had finished, although his talkfarexceededthe suggested time limit originally set by master ofceremonies Bruce MacDonald, a member of the provincial execu­ tive. Mr. Riddell was eloquent in his praise for the accomplishments of his government since its election in the Spring of 1985, but somewhat vague in its plans for the future as his party gears up for an election many feel will be called before year’s end. Much of Mr. Riddell’s speech centered on the benefits his ministry has brought to Ontario agriculture over the past 20 months, including the comment that government spending on agriculture has increased by 61 per cent within that time, a larger percentage of growth than that shown by any other provincial ministry during the period. He noted that9,500 Ontario farm families had received benefits of $46 million under the first Ontario Family Farm Interest Rate Reduc­ tion Program (OFFIRR), with $4 million of that paid out to 807 Huron County farm families alone. As well, Mr. Riddell said the Ontario Liberals expect another 18,000 farmers to apply for the extra $246 million available to them under the expanded OFFIRR Plus program over the next three years. ‘‘This is a recognition by this government of the seriousness of the situ at ion in our agricultural community,” he said. ‘‘What happens in agriculture has a major impact on the economic, social and family life in thousands of cities, towns, villages and hamlets, as well as along the back concessions of Ontario.” Twelve voting delegates to the Huron PC's pick April 14 Progressive Conservatives in the new provincial riding of Huron will name their candidate for the next provincial election on April 14 at a nomination meeting in Clinton. Donna Wood, PC riding presi dent, said Tuesday that three people have expressed interest in contesting the nomination for the party. The Liberal party last week March 19. However, at the regular March meeting last Thursday in God­ annual meeting of the Ontario Liberal Party in Toronto in April were also elected on Thursday, all of them from south Huron. At present Mr. Riddell represents the riding of Huron-Middlesex. The new riding of Huron will come into effect when the next provincial election is called. nominated Jack Riddell, M.P.P. for Huron-Middlesex and Minister of Agriculture as their candidate. Mrs. Wood said nominations must be in to association secretary Janet Webster of Varna 48 hours prior to the nomination meeting. Guest speaker for the meeting at Central Huron Secondary School Auditorium will be Phillip An­ drews, M.P.P. erich, council was told by Tucker­ smith Township Reeve Bob Bell, a member of the executive commit­ tee, that the committee was not prepared to live with such an increase. ‘‘If we can get some direction (with the budget cuts), we’ll do the job,” he said. Exeter Reeve Bill Mickle, how­ ever, preferred to toss the ball back into the committee’s court. Referr­ ing to an executive committee decision to make Family and Children’s Services stay within a fourtofivepercentincrease, he said the committee should be just as firm with its own departments. Goderich Township Reeve Grant Stirling, another executive com­ mittee member, indicated some of the problem was that no depart­ ment was volunteering to make its own cuts. ‘‘If we gave all the departments what they ask for, that’s what the increase would be (11.75 per cent),” he said. The executive committee, how­ ever, would like to see the increase limited to 5.5 per cent, but cuts would have to be made in most departmental budgets, he said. While the social services depart­ ment has kept its budget proposal towithinthe4.5percentrange, the roads department was the only department to make its own cuts in order to meet that request. To attract industry to this area, Mr. Mickle said, it is important for the county to be competitive in its taxation requirements by showing operating restraint, even if it means cutting staff to achieve this purpose. In a letter circulated to members of county council, Mr. Mickle pointed out that Huron County is the fourth highest among eight counties in property tax demands per household. Huron is also the second highest in spending per household and receives the third highest number of grants per household. Besides Huron, the other coun­ ties in Mr. Mickle’s comparison are Oxford, Bruce, Elgin, Grey, Kent, Lambton and Perth. ‘‘How long can we keep (increases) to four or five per cent,” McKillop Township Reeve Marie Hicknell asked. ‘‘It’s good to keep to that, butthereisgoingtocome a day when we are going to have to bite the bullet and pay a whole lot more.” The biggest single increase in the budget is a $400,000 reserve for the proposed Huronview expan­ sion, council was told by Stanley Township Reeve Clarence Rau. ‘‘When we’re putting money into a reserve account for hospitals, we should think of our own hospital first,” the Huronview manage­ ment committee chairman said, however. * He was referring to the $197,902 which the county currently holds in reserve for hospital. A portion of that is already earmarked for the Clinton Public Hospital, council was told. However. Mr. Bell pointed out the 11.75 per cent increase was without provision for 1987 reserve funds for hospitals. To make such provision would mean an addition­ al four per cent increase, he said. Hay Township Reeve Lionel Wilder said the county had to establish and build up its reserve accounts in order to pay for future projects. Council is already com­ mitted to the Huron County Pioneer Museum, Huronview and Ball’s Bridge projects, he said. One of the major factors contri­ buting to the budget dilemma, Clerk-Treasurer Bill Hanly told council, is that while the county’s expenditures are increasing, its resource grants have only gone up about two per cent. Council must approve the bud­ get at its March 19 special meeting in order to meet approval deadlines for federal and provincial grants.