Lakeshore Advance, 2011-06-08, Page 11Bluewater cuts tax
rate by 3.8396
Vanessa Brown
Clinton News Record
In a unanimous vote, Blue -
water council last Tuesday
passed its 2011 budget that
proves to be a document of fis-
cal restraint "to invest in the
future:
The roughly $5.5 million
budget results in a .02 per cent
decrease to the overall munici-
pal levy and a 3.83 per cent
decrease in the tax rate - down
from a proposed 4.12 per cent
increase when budget deliber-
ations began in late March.
Ratepayers with a residential
property assessed at $100,00()
will pay $1,301.16 in total taxes,
$51 less than in 2010. That
number is split between
municipal, county and school
board taxes. The municipal
portion is $484.14, a 5,41 per
cent decrease from last year.
Council has earmarked
$443,500 in savings for future
investment in the areas of
roads, bridges, libraries, land-
fills and facilities. Bluewater's
reserves will see a jump, with
$400,000 for road and bridge
repairs, paving and construc-
tion; $24,000 for landfill pre-
post closure costs; $7,000
toward the 2014 municipal
election; and $12,500 for a lake -
shore roads study.
Bluewater treasurer Ans-
berth Willert said the munici-
pality will continue to provide
current services.
"Within the current eco-
nomic environment, I think it's
commendable that council
and staff have managed to
maintain this current level of
service for corporate opera-
tions while placing emphasis
on reserves for future projects,
she said.
Some key services include
the Bayfield distribution sys-
tem water project, Bayfield and
Hensall lagoon environmental
assessments, upgrades to the
Zurich lagoon, the Lakeshore
Sewage Collection System
environmental assessment and
the continuation of the Blue -
„'water landfill consolidation
Major Bluewater projects for
2011 include energy-saving
upgrades to the Zurich arena,
the Stanley heating, ventilation
and air conditioning (HVAC)
upgrade, complete architec-
tural drawings for the Bayfield
library construction project, a
new roof for the Bayfield com-
munity centre, Hensall landfill
remediation work, road paving
and bridge work as well as a
new tandem, pickup truck and
backhoe for the municipality.
Before council approved the
budget last week, Klopp pre-
sented three motions that
looked for further savings. 'Ihe
first took issue with a $102,147
"special" capital levy paid to
the Ausable Bayfield Conser-
vation Authority (ARCA) over
10 years to replenish the
ABCA's reserve after it pur-
chased a new administration
office. Annual payments are
set at $11,350. That portion of
the levy was left out of the
ABCA's budget presented to
council in January. 'Ihe build-
ing was paid for through
reserve funds, which Klopp
said was good management.
I lowever, he said it wasn't right
to tack on a special levy to
replenish those reserves.
Mayor Bill Dowson con-
ceded the municipality alight
still have to pay the amount
in the end, but he said coun-
cil needs to be vigilant on the
issue.
"We need to send the mes-
sage that we're not going to
sit down every time and let
this happen," he said. "We
likely have to pay it, but let's
keep letting them know we
don't like it."
The motion to withhold
payment from the ABCA,
while keeping the $11,350 in
the budget in reserves,
passed 9-1 in a recorded vote.
Councillors Geordie Palmer
(Bayfield), Kay Wise Men-
sal!), John Becker (Hay East),
Janisse Zimmerman (Zurich),
John Gillespie (Hay West),
Dave Roy (Stanley East),
Tyler Vessel, Klopp and
Dowson voted in favour.
Coun. George Irvin (Stanley
West) was opposed.
Klopp also requested that
Bluewater withhold about
$23,000 in grant funding for
the Bayfield and Bluewater
Shores Ratepayer Associa-
tions to continue testing
water quality in Bluewater's
beaches and ravines.
Klopp said residents don't
like to see "redundancy in
government."
For the next few years, the
Ontario Ministry of Agricul-
ture, Food and Rural Affairs
will be testing water in the
municipality's ravines, he
said, while the Huron County
-CONTINUED . PAW 14
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