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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1992-05-27, Page 1News________1______Sports History Walton-area firm designs and builds giant compost processor Brussels Tigers on a roll with 5 and 0 season start See page 7 See page 11 Century farm holds many memories for Brussels-area couple See page 14 Citizen Vol. 8 No. 21 The North Huron Wednesday, May 27, 1992 60 cents ’91 deficit affects Blyth budget BY LISA BOONSTOPPEL-POT Faced with a $3,460 deficit from 1991, Blyth council is looking at raising taxes 3.9 per cent for 1992. Blyth councillors reviewed both the 1991 Consolidated Financial Report and the proposed 1992 bud­ get at their May 19 meeting. The financial report was accepted but councillors deferred passing the proposed budget until their next meeting so they could have more time to review it. Paul Seebach of Vodden, Bender and Seebach, the village auditors, presented the 1991 financial report saying "the bottom line is you have a deficit of $3,460." Blyth clerk Helen Grubb accred­ ited this to Blyth Memorial Hall. "Memorial Hall caused the prob­ lem because rentals come nowhere close to offsetting expenses," she said. "Hall rentals used to cover the caretaking and supply costs but don't anymore." The statement reveals Memorial Hall rentals were only $5,203 in 1991 compared to $9,515 in 1990. However, costs went up to $35,159 from $21,648 in 1990 which required the village pay $29,606 in 1991, up from $12,133 in 1990. Except for Blyth Memorial Hall, no other department went over bud­ get in 1991 even though many pro­ jects were undertaken last year, said Ms. Grubb. Some of the big expenses budget­ ed for in 1991 included office reno­ vations and equipment totalling $31,610, the installation of a $10,332 computer system in the town office, the purchase of a $11,913 fire truck, construction on Morris St. at a cost of $96,144, street lighting at $30,272, a $39,197 tractor for garbage dispos­ al and services and library renova­ tions at a cost of $30,510. Fewer projects are being planned for 1992, said Ms. Grubb. "There's nothing fancy in the 1992 budget," she told councillors Tuesday night. "We worked very hard to make it tight and I don’t think there's any project in the bud­ get that we can't do." Councillor Steve Sparling agreed. "This is a pretty vanilla budget. I don't see any place where it can be reduced." Along with a scaling down of proposed projects, the projected incoming revenue is also lower. In preparing the proposed budget, it was estimated total revenue for general purposes would be $542,645 compared to $684,482 in 1991. This is largely due to a decrease in PRIDE grants and used up reserves. "The revenue is down and we have to be prepared to spend less money," said Mr. Sparling. Though they are planning to spend less money by estimating expenditures at $539,185, com­ pared to $733,779 last year, the budget is also proposing a mill rate increase of 3.93 per cent. The projected increase is the low­ est that's been put forth in the past four years. Last year, it was 10.4 per cent, in 1990 it was 4.7 per cent and is 1989 it was 10.9 per cent. If council passes the 3.9 per cent mill rate, it means 15 per cent of total revenue comes from the vil­ lage. The remaining revenue comes from telephone taxation ($9,200), supplementary ($2,000), payments in lieu of taxes ($9,700), Ontario grants ($226,203) and other rev­ enue ($51,611.) Hall costs worry Blyth councillors Touchdown It's that time of year at area schools when students run, leap and jump at the chance to compete in track and field events. Sandy Walsh, a student at Blyth Public School goes the distance in her shot at the runing long jump during that school's track and field meet last week. The winners from Blyth will move on to the regional meet in Seaforth May 27. Track athletes advance to regional meet in Toronto Two area track and field athletes have qualified to compete at the OFSAA regionals in Toronto this weekend. Sherry Taylor of RR 5, Wingham qualified for OFSAA by placing fourth in the midget girl's shot put at the WOSSA competition held last week in St. Thomas. Her throw was 9.43 metres. The F.E. Madill student also competed in the midget girl's discus event and came fifth. The other athlete advancing to OFSAA is Kara-Lee Potter of Lon- desboro who ran the senior girl's 3000 metre race in 11.42 seconds placing fourth. Miss Potter, who attends Central Huron Secondary School, also did well in the 1500 metre race at WOSSA. CHSS coach Larry Powell said Miss Potter is "very self-disciplined and has a high motivation level. She's an excellent role model to the rest of the team." Though no other local athletes made it to the OFSAA regionals, many did well at the WOSSA com­ petition. CHSS student Rick Howson of Blyth finished in the top 10 in both continued on page 11 BY LISA BOONSTOPPEL-POT Soaring costs and decreased rev­ enues at Blyth Memorial Hall is worrying Blyth councillors who say they could save a lot of money by closing it up. "If you look at the hall as a busi­ ness, you’d consider closing it Belgrave youth hurt in crash A Belgrave youth was one of four boys injured in a single vehicle accident near the Pine River Cheese Factory on Highway 21 last week. David McKee, 18, and Glenn Congram, 19, of Wroxeter were taken to Wingham and District Hospital and have since been released. William McGrath, 20, of Wing­ ham and Kenneth Wheeler, 20, of Wroxeter were taken to Kincardine Hospital. Mr. McGrath was later transferred to Victoria Hospital and Mr. Wheeler to University Hospital where they remain in critical condi­ tion. According to Kincardine OPP the accident occurred at 4:15 a.m. The vehicle left the road, rolled over and caught fire. Their investigation is continuing. because you can't run a business when the costs are more than the income," said Blyth Reeve Dave Lee at Tuesday night's regular meeting of council. Though he was quick to say council wasn't planning on closing the hall, there was some specula­ tion among councillors on what would have to be done to reduce the hall's drain on municipal taxes. "The cost of rental will have to more accurately reflect our cost," stated Councillor Steve Sparling. "We have to find a balance," said Mr. Lee. "We can't rate ourself out of the market but our current rate doesn't cut the mustard." Currently, the town only charges local and non-profit groups $15 a night for the basement, $135 for the basement, kitchen and auditorium and $55 for the auditorium alone. Non-local or profit-making groups are charged $50 for the basement, $75 for the basement and kitchen, $175 for the kitchen, basement and auditorium and $100 for the audito­ rium. Councillor Shirley Fyfe suggest­ ed the $255 per week cleaning cost could be reduced. The discussion about Memorial Hall arose while Paul Seebach of Vodden, Bender and Seebach char­ tered accountants presented the Vil­ lage's 1991 Consolidated Financial Report. The report revealed hall expendi­ tures were up $13,511 from 1990 for a total cost of $35,159. Where costs rose, revenue did not. Rentals brought in only $5,203 in 1991 compared to $9,515 in 1990. This meant the Village had to contribute $29,606 to the hall for it to break even. "Something is very wrong here," said Councillor John Elliott at the meeting while reviewing the hall expenditures. He was especially shocked by the dramatic increase in heat and utility costs which rose from $8,737 in 1990 to $12,412 in 1991. Councillor Fyfe, who sits on the hall board, agreed with Mr. Elliott but said the board has been unable to discover why heating costs are up. But Clerk Helen Grubb said part of the problem rests with people who rent the facility and turn the heat up. "When there are card games in there, the heat is turned up and I mean really turned up," she said. "We've put locked boxes around the thermostats but it is still hap­ pening." She also said there are places in the building where you can look up at the roof and see the sky which would allow for escaping heat. No decisions were reached on how council is going to deal with Memorial Hall except that all felt it was important the public know how much the building is costing the town.