Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2006-01-11, Page 6Page 6 January 11, 2006 • The Huron Expositor News County begins budget with 5.34 per cent increase Huron East Mayor protests county plans to put Brussels ambulance station on hold Susan Hundertmark 111111111211111111, The sirens of budget deliberations were sounded last week at the first Huron County council meeting of 2006. At the Jan. 5 meeting, council agreed to start working on a budget with a 5.34 per cent tax increase. "This is the starting line," Warden Rob Morley reminded council. "We're going to have to take a long hard 4pok at our spending and Peggoty's B&B and Tea Room Third Annual Christmas Draw Winner! Peggoty's is pleased to announce • the winner of our Christmas Draw Gift Basket valued at over $375.001 The gift basket won is filled with a variety of Peggoty's Preserves and a Homemade afghan. Congratulations Richard Verberne! 145 Main Street North, Seaforth (519) 527-1072 give the direction to our managers," said John Bezaire, a councillor from Central Huron. Yet, at least one councillor is refusing to accept any budget pro- posal and others are demanding more transparency and clarity in dealing with the figures. Joe Seili, Mayor of Huron East, told his colleagues he is refusing to accept any budget figure after plans for a Brussels ambulance station were indefinitely put on hold. "There's no way I can support this budget now in any way or in the future," Seili said. Plans for ambulance bays sug- gested in Dungannon -area and Brussels were postponed after the announcement of a new ambulance station being constructed north of Wingham. After the Jan. 6 county meeting, Seili said the county is being run by an "old boys' club" and Huron East is continually being treated unfair- ly. "It's one more thing," Seili com- mented. "Huron East is getting kicked at again." Meanwhile, during the Thursday ION CLEANSING Restore, energize and balance your body. Through this unique process you may experience: • Increased energy • Reduce inflammation • Relieve tension • Improved sleep • Headache relief and more! For more information or to book an appointment Please call Ruth at 522-0896 INDIAN RIVER DIRECT *Citrus Truckload Saler Florida 20 Ib. Box Seedless Navel Oranges or Grapefruit 20 Ib. Box Ruby Red FRESH FROM THE GROVE INDIAN RIVER FLORIDA morning meeting, Bluewater mayor Bill Dowson led a group of con- cerned politicians who said county staff are baffling the local politi- cians with endless numbers. "I think we're getting hoodwinked on figures," Dowson remarked. Dowson said in the past county councillors have been told that funding was in dire financial straits. Three years ago, Dowson recalled, county council was told things were in dire straits and the reserves were very low. At that time a 40 per cent increase was suggested but later, Dowson said, after budget delibera- tions, the increase was brought down to about 20 per cent. Last year, the budget proceedings began with . about a 25 per cent increase, Dowson added. In the end, council presented a budget with a 17 per cent increase. Now, Dowson said, there is more than $14 million in reserves and not all the money has been spent from past budgets. "Something is out of whack," Dowson said. As council is looking at a possible increase again this year, Dowson reminded his colleagues that they have to be careful. "The public is getting tired of it, the public is getting baffled and they're getting tired of it," Dowson said. Coun. Paul Klopp reiterated Dowson's comments. While Klopp said he realized the importance of county reserves, the council needs to do a better job of explaining to the public what money is going towards. However, South Huron coun. Dave Urlin said county staff couldn't be blamed for budget increases as council always makes the final decision. "If you didn't understand the bud- get you should have asked the ques- tion at that time," Urlin shot at Dowson. "I point the finger at all us coun- cillors," Bezaire added. He reminded council that with assessment changes in 2005, people will be paying more on their taxes. He urged council to reduce the tax increase to as little as possible. "The decision that we have mov- ing forward in this county is going to be far tougher than that 20 per cent increase," Bezaire warned. Huron East finances in great shape as 2006 begins, says deputy -clerk Susan Hundertmark Huron East councillors are all smiles about their financial situa- tion as they begin to look at 2006.` "The municipality is in great shape right now," said Clerk - Administrator Brad Knight at Huron East's meeting Dec. 20. "We're starting the year with a bal- anced budget and we haven't been able to do that in a couple of years." A new provincial funding formula to municipalities means Huron East ST. ANNE'S CATHOLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL Grade 8 Parent/Guardian Information Session on Monday, Jan. 16, 7 - 8:30 pm St. Anne's Catholic Secondary School **Grade 8 students are welcome to attend. If you have questions regarding this meeting, please call St. Anne's at 482-5454 ext. 117 Inclement weather date Monday, Feb. 6,2006 1 Huron -Perth Catholic District School Board is receiving $500,000 more than it received before. "The budget is designed to gener- ate a $150,000 surplus and that's a significant thing. The reserves have grown over $1 million since amalga- mation," said Knight. While reserves were at $1.2 mil- lion in 2001, the closing balance at the end of 2005 is expected to be $2.3 million. Some of that increase came from the new provincial funding - coun- cil decided to put $464,000 of $879,000 from the province to equipment reserves and $175,000 to bridge reserves. This year's property assessment reflects a growth of residential val- ues, especially in the urban areas, most specifically in Seaforth where there's a 17 per cent increase. Knight said the reassessement will cause a slight shift in tax bur- den from the rural to the urban areas of Huron East. He added that the new provincial funding formula also causes 'a higher percentage of funding to come from the urban areas.