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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2006-03-29, Page 8f �f Page 8 March 29, 2006 • The Huron Expositor News Huron East approves 2006 budget on Tuesday Police funding formula changes to reflect decreased OPP presence in Seaforth From Page 1 $272,852 which works out to a less than one per cent increase in taxes. In Grey, the levy is $500,681, which works out to a small decrease in taxes. In McKillop, the levy is $400,139, which works out to a two per cent increase in taxes. But, Knight point- ed out McKiiltop will continue to have the lowest tax rate in the county. And, in Tuckersmith, the levy is $658,607, which works out to a 1.5 per cent increase in taxes. Highlights of the budget include a change in the way the municipality is paying for its policing costs. Ce elor Employme Avon r':% ajt1 id Because Seaforth no longer has Huron OPP officers based in Seaforth and because of a change in provincial funding, Seaforth's con- tribution to policing costs decreased from $360 per household to $262 per household. While the other four wards used to contribute $90 a household, that number was increased to $150 per household. "There's still some recognition there that the majority of OMPF (provincial) funding comes from the farmland tax formula," said Knight. Base funding to Huron East's three recreation centres increased significantly. In Seaforth, arena funding went up WWI FANSHAWE Learning COLLEGE The Centres for Employment & Learning in partnership with Fanshawe College are proud to deliver the following Certificate Programs: • Personal Support Worker Ontario College Certificate • Security Professionals — Level 1 • Aesthetics and Nail Technician Certificate For details on course information delivery and other Fanshawe College On-line and Credit Courses join us at an INFORMATION SESSION: to be held at: Goderich: April 4, 2006 4 --7 pm Exeter: April 6, 2006 4 — 7 pm Mitchell: April 12, 2006 4 — 7 pm Call Dianne Harrison to register for the Information Session 519.357.4995 ext. 14 by 95 per cent from $58,500 to $114,346 and in Brussels, arena funding went up by 110 per cent from $73,500 to $155,000. Funding to the Vanastra Recreation Centre went up 24 per cent from $69,500 to $86,200. A seven per cent salary increase for Huron East staff added $126,000 to the payroll bringing the total to $1.8 million. Road construction in 2006 increased from $687,000 to $1.095 million, largely 'because there are no major equipment purchases planned for the year, said Knight. However, major water system pro- jects are planned for 2006 with $360,000 planned to be spent on water work and $400,000 planned to be spent on sewage work in Seaforth and $937,000 planned to be spent on sewage work in Vanastra. Knight said Huron East is hoping to have the sewage work in Vanastra offset by two-thirds fund- ing from the province. Huron East reserves now sit at $2,318,229, with $1,234,812 in the working capital reserve, 750,000 in the equipment reserve and $333,417 in the bridges reserve.Knight point- ed out that provincial funding of $3,152,832 will be decreasing by $93,000 next year. Front Road residents lobby for hard surface on their road Susan Hnndertmarlc Close to 10 Front Road residents, hoping for a hard surface for their road from Egmondville to Vanastra, got their wish granted at Huron East council last Tuesday. Responding to "a number of rumours out there," residents Jim McIntosh and Stan Johns wanted to hear from council, directly if the road would be surfaced this year. "The volume of cars from 5 a.m. on is unbe- lievable and it's going to be a tremendous dis- appointment if it can't be hard surfaced very soon," said Johns. The plan to tar and chip Front Road from Egmondville to "green bridge" on the Kinburn Line was discussed during budget delibera- tions. Tuckersmith Coun. Bill DeJong suggested several weeks ago that the entire road be tarred and chipped from Egmondville to Vanastra, adding that any expense greater than the budgeted amount come out of the Tuckersmith reserves. If you received a blood transfusion or blood product before 1992, you may have been infected with hepatitis C. Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus that slowly damages your liver. Symptoms do not show up for years but you will eventually get sick. Before 1992, screening for this disease was not consistent and many patients became infected through the blood system. So ask your doctor about getting tested. Detection is key to controlling the virus and you may be entitled to financial assistance. "Maybe I started some of these rumours because people were very anxious to get this road paved and I told one or two of them it would be done this year and got their hopes up," DeJong told council. The plan was put on hold, however, when DeJong couldn't convince his fellow Tuckersmith representative Larry McGrath to go ahead, using Tuckersmith's reserves. "I didn't want to do it this year because the hill by the old school breaks up every year. My concern was to give the road another year and see if it's standing up," said McGrath. He added he was glad to hear from Front Road residents that the road is solid and ready for a hard surface. Council opened tenders for the road and agreed to a cost of $165,074.25 for the whole road. Because $130,000 was budgeted for the project, taking the rest out of the Tuckersmith reserves will be discussed at council's next meeting. 1-877-222-4977 www.health.gov.on.cp/hepc Paid for by the Government of Ontario II(- iti (1. Find otic if you have it. (yet tested. n Ontario