HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-12-16, Page 5Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, December 16, 2009 - Page 5
Council to start trimming $1.3 million
Girard Crimes
signal -star staff
"We have a Herculean task ahead of us;'
said a sombre Mayor Deb Shewfelt at Goder-
ich Town Council's December 8 public meet-
ing. In front of him lay a thick black binder
- the town's 2010 budget. This year's figure -
$6,388,845. •
The task - find and cut $1.37 million in order
to get to a zero per cent tax increase.
After a year of two-thirds funding In an
infrastructure -heavy recession stimulus pack-
age, there is still much work to do, acg
to town staff.
'This is one of the most difficult- piidgets
for the municipality," said clerk -administrator
Larry McCabe. "Although this spending round
of infrastructure is necessary, int still doesn't
cover it."
Preceding treasurer Judy Kay's presentation
of the first half of the budget to council, Mayor
Shewfelt pulled no punches.
"What type of an increase can you live
with?" he asked.
Councillors Elgie, Hurd and Murdock each
said figures between two and three per cent
would be reasonable, as there are many things
before council that historically, have been non -
issues.
"We have some things we can't put off,"
Murdock said.
"There are a number of items we haven't
had over the years," Hurd echoed. 'We will be
striving ahead with difficulty."
Only Coun. Heather Lyons pushed for a zero
per cent increase, while admitting maintaining
current levels of service must be a top priority.
In her preamble to council, Kay noted that
residential assessment rates are projected to
rise approximately five per cent this year,
with the average residential increasing from
$169,000 to $177,450.
Council salaries and honoraria amount to
$122,091 combined, up from a combined
$85,383 in 2009.
Total staff salaries are pegged at $567,018
with an additional $164,579 in benefits.
Non -unionized staff will receive a two per
cent raise to keep up with those in collective
agreements.
Recycling - which is currently a $42 charge
per household - would be absorbed into the
general tax levy, with $195,381 included in the
draft budget to cover the costs of implementa-
tion. However, that figure is part of the, $1.37
million currently unfinanced.
Outstanding as of press time were the
YMCA's recreation budget and the final figure
for the Maitland Valley Conservation Area.
The YMCA was, expected to present their
budget to council by Dec. 14 while the MVCA
is funded entirely from the Water Expansion
Reserve Fund.
The total gross expenditure for mad con-
struction in 2010 is just over one million dol-
lars - $1,012,853.
Slated for work this year are Gloucester,
Caledonia and Waterloo Streets, as well as
parts of Quebec, Colborne and top coating of
Elgin Aventte, South and Colborne Streets.
A $1 million sanitary sewer upgrade will
have no effect on the gener4'levy, being fund-
ed entirely from the pollution control reserve
funds.
However, the implementation of water me-
ters in town comes with an estimated cost of
about $2.7 million, and Kay noted funding
sources are "yet to be determined."
Winter maintenance will cost taxpayers
$128,000 in salaries and. benefits and $1,000
for sand and supplies.
The Goderich Municipal Airport is asking
for $310,000 in capital projects, the bulk of
which is for new fuel tanks, however, $145,000
has been earmarked for the p flvhase of a truck/
plow for the runways.
"I'll keep babying the one we have but it
won't last long," said airport manager Ken Bo-
gie. .
However, the airport has the shared distinc-
tion along with municipal daycare . and the
Mid -Huron Landfill of going under the mi-
croscope to see how and where money can be
saved. Those departments will undergo fur-
ther scrutiny at the December 14 and January
7 budget meetings.
With a shortfall `of $110,000, the landfill
has already had to face staff reductions, as
diversion of waste makes for less work and
less revenue.
Meanwhile, the Goderich Fire Depart-
ment is looking for $507,345, shared in part
between the municipalities of Central Huron
and Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh. Goder-
ich's portion is 55 per cent.
The fire department is seeking to fund a
full-time fire chief, .who would also work as
the fire inspection officer, Acting chief Steve
Gardiner said much of the fire department's
capital costs include bunker gear for 11 fire-
fighters, a new ground ladder, uniforms and
new, properly -fitted self-contained breathing
masks. The next public budget meeting is
set for January 7 in Huron County Council
Chambers at 4 p.m.
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