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Home My WebLink AboutTimes-Advocate, 1987-05-06, Page 20 Page 2 Times -Advocate, May 6, 1987 Town It's official now. Exeter public school supporters will have a 7.41 per- cent increase in their taxes this year, while the increase for separate school supporters is 8.36 percent. • At their regular meeting. Monday council passed the bylaw (despite ob- jections reported from Reeve Bill Mickle reported elsewhere) setting this year's mill rate which results in a $69 tax increase on a home assess- • ed at $3,000 and $93 for one assessed at $4,000. That's for public school sup- porters and separate school rates will be slightly higher. The 1987 town budget lists $837,320 to be raised for general municipal purposes. Local ratepayers will con- tribute $290,215 for country services. $429,000 for public secondary schools, $592;189 f public elementary. schools, ,426 for separate secon- dary and $47,389 for separate elemen- tary. That's a total of $2,233,270. Taxation for general municipal pur- poses is up 6.9 percent over last year. Most department budgets reflect that increase, although there are some above and others below. Council and administration have $214,356 this year, compared to last year's budget of $193;884 and the ac- tual expenditure of $188,318. Stipends, per diems, penefits and expenses for council members makes up $42,000 of that budget, an -increase of almost $10,000 over last year's actual. This is the first year members have receiv- ed per diem rates to attend conven- tions, seminars, etc. The building and zoning ad- ministration budget has been set at $61,000. which is only over last year's budget by about $1,400. but is some $14,000 over what was actually spent in 1986. However, much of the dif- - ference last year was in legal and sun- dry costs andwith an OMB battle looming over the proposal for the Hay agri=industrial park again, council set aside $10,000 in that category this year. Last year, $8,000 had been in the budget for legal but only $3,480 was expended. The animal control budget remains unchanged at $1,000 and the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority levy has been boosted from last year's $11,157 to $13,479. .Council members have formally objected to the latter increase. One of the few budgets to decline is that for fire protection. That has-been tax hike is official set at $156,619 this year, whereas it was $157,000 in last year's budget, although only $132,078 was spent. The budget is one of the few that has some unknowns, as there is no way to ascer- tain how many fires will be recorded and what wage costs they may represent. This year's police budget has gone up to $377,177 from last ,year's $354,964. The budget came in under estimate in 1986 with actual expen- ditures being 8349,430. This year's budget has 8282,600 for wages. benefits and staff development and in 1986 there was 8258,698 set aside. Mickle's warning gets little result Reeve Bill Mickle received a polite audience when he aired some con- cerns over Exeter's 1987 budget pro- posal, Monday, but his words failed to move any council cohorts as they approved the budget as presented. Mickle said he couldn't support the budget "for 1 believe we will mor- tgage the future and make it very dif- ficult for future councils to react to their needs of this town". • The Reeve was not present for the April 23 session of council when the budget was given the final okay and he complained particularly about the fact it had been decided to remove several contributions to reserve funds. He said that was not a good fiscal policy. His reference to mortgaging the future was pertaining to the decision to add taxes from new assesment coming on stream this year to in- crease revenue if a requested road supplementary subsidy is not receiv- ed from the ministry of transportation and communications. It was explained that this"found money" had been used in the past to assist in retaining accumulated net revenues to offset the next year's re- quired taxes. He warned that by staying with their proposal, council would be creating pressures in future years and would either have to double . deposits to catch up, delay replacements to equipment or impose higher taxes to meet those. C-oncluding, he said he could not support the budget because it ignores the maintenance of reserve funds and provides minimal protection to future budgets. His pleading gained some support for the concerns presented from coun- cillor Gaylan Josephson, but the tat- - ter asked what suggestions Mickle had for changes. The Reeve said some of the street work being considered on the basis of the supplementary could be shelved if the subsidy is not received. Councillor Ben Iloogenboom said he felt badly that Mickle had been unable to attend the final budget ses- sion, but went on to note that one area that created difficulty was Mickle's suggestion to buy industrial land. "It's a little late to be complain- ing," he added. Josephsoq then said that while he agreed with some of the Reeve's con- cerns, he didn't think that not putting • funds into reserves this year to the ex- tent originally planned was creating a major catastrophe. He added that he would like to have seen more money put in reserves, "but there are times when you have to bite the bullet", and he said members should pat themselves on the back for showing constraint to keep town expenditure increases below those from other - groups who get a share of taxes raised locally. When the bylaw received its three readings and acceptance, Mickle registered his opposition on each occasion. Immediately after, saying that he assumed that the budget would be ap- proved, he called on council to establish an audit committee and that all 1988 expenditure requests be tabl- ed before December 31 and commit- tees failing to comply will have their funding set by the audit committee. His recommendation was turned over to the -executive committee for consideration. MP.�`Y��.'.:'ry'.FAMOM��e.`'CMi�.f`s:SMOMMVA'ia.AMstiMMMa>':>:'''>'�'�i.,�3.`ME:. The 1987 public works department budget is at $633,420 with an addi- tional 8441,468 for capital projects, The comparable budget estimates - last year were $625,004 and $359,150 respectively. The capital budget includes $5,500 for sidewalks, 8118,357 for reconstruc- tion on William and Church, 8125,000 for John St. W., $14,000 for a portion of Gidley, $16,000 for Baldwin and $25,000 for Riverside. The latter three will be undertaken by the Exeter works department and the other two will be contracted out. Another major item is 8100,000 for the new interceptor sewer planned for Pryde Boulevard and there will also be 837,611 set aside for equipment. Grants for social and cultural groups, which includes a permanent float for the town for local and area parades. has been jacked to $4,500 from last year's $2,500. Another major increase is for economic development that has gone from last year's budget of $8,000 to this year's $15,040. In addition, council has approved purchase of industrial land at a cost this year of $90,000 and an additional .expenditure in that amount for 1988. Approval has also been given for a computer for the building inspection department at $24,000. A grant of $10,000 for that has been received from the provincial government. The financial assistance to the South liuronreccentre board hasbeen set at a total of $100,000, but only 875.000 will be shown as operating funds and the other $25,000 will be held until the end of the year to ascer- tain whether it will be required by the board in whole or in part, or whether some may go to local minor groups. Minor ice sports groups have already received $10,938 in direct grants from council this year. One of the major chops this year is in contribution to reserve funds. Last year there was $68,000 set aside for that and this year it has been reduc- ed to 816,000, of which $10,000 is for servicing industrial land. That major reduction was the main avenue through which council brought their budget into lien with their expecta- tions as $85,000 had originally been earmarked for contributions to reserve funds. STEPHEN ODDS DAY - Students at Stephen Central school were dressed in odd fashion, Friday. Back, left, Ethan Smith, Jennifer Pickering and Susan Ratz. Front, Erin Jennison, David Obre and Shawn McCurdy. T -A photo ERECTING BIRD HOUSES - John Schwindt of the Ausable-Bayfield Conservation Authority is giving instructions to Osborne Central School students Michael Strang and Chris Grimminck on making bird houses for Morrison Dam. T -A photo SS trustees enjoy video clip A short video clip was shown to )tie also at the Board's display at the In - trustees of the Huron -Perth County ternational Plowing Match in Roman Catholic Separate School September, 1988, when the Plowing Board Monday night. match is held in Perth County near Made by Tracey Luciani of Stratford. Listowel, who is a CKNX reporter, the Lin Steffler of Walton, a board of - video clip was made for the school fice employee for the past 17 years board. It explains the purpose of the has been offered the position in the Catholic School System and provides board office which will lead to the a glimpse of the four levels of school- position of accountant. Her new posi- ing for which the board is responsible tion will commence May 18 at an an- -- primary, junior, intermediate and nual salary of $27,500. She will re senior divisions. current _ _ responsibilities ---for Its first showing will be d mge transportation. Education week display at the Strat- Two.new classroom teachers have ford -Mall -beginning Thursday- een iced to start work on" It will also be used as part of the opening of the Provincial Education Week in Perth County in April, 1988, ment at Mitchell District High School, and Sister Mary Margaret Parent, an Ursuline Sister, presently working in adult education with the Public School Board in Windsor. Diane Lalone was hired as a special education teacher at St. Joseph's School in Clinton effective September 1, while Cathy Drennan was transfer- red from St. Joseph's School in Clin- ton to St. Joseph's Schooin- fain ---Wilma BanBakel was hired as itineran ore -French teacher" for atford school; effective September 1. The Maitland Valley Conservation Authority has offered tb attend a 'board meeting to outline the present program offered and future ones. September 1 at St. Michael Secondary School in Stratford: Jim Gaylor, presently head of the science depart - N. ' mir--;),' ,W C40)/(othablitibsciove c 44 mqu• 1 MOWS UP THIS COUPON AND SAVE •---- -- HURONRIDG ACRES r �, This Mothe s Day give HURON RIDGE ` S, ,:- O a Gift of 1 vG ' URON East /O Nfaught Baskets •Potted Planters full of OFF1!mindful Flowering Planta This coupon expires Ma} 10. 1¶)Si RIDGE ACRES Follow Our Signs 11 miles west. then 31/2 miles north o1 Zurich • on off Hwy. 21 South of Bayfield at Stanley Sideroad 15.,then take . firsCright DAVE & CAROL STECKLE AND FAMILY . R.R. 2 ZURICH. ONTARIO (519) 565-2122 Open: Mon. • frt. 9'- 9; Sot. 9 - S; During May: Sunday 1:30 - ' The board will provide for the distribution of the initial issue of the Teachers For Life Newsletter to all its teaching staff based on the Right to Life program as suggested by Trustee John Devlin who is president of the local Pro Life organization. YOUNGSTERS SING - Susan Graham conducts a practice of youth singers preparing for Sunday's Concert by the New Huronia Singers. Welcome Neighbour Armstrong • Domcor • Burlington Vinyl & Ceramic Flooring FREE ESTIMATES � HITING ' AND ILLER CARPET AND DRAPERY Norm Whiting, Barb Whiting, Randy Miller 235-1234 235-2456 DRIVE HOME Fraynes have decided these vehicles must be sold within the next 30 days. All cars priced for immediate sale and are backed by our 10,000 km/6 month warranty. Stock No. 78 Chev Chevette 79'AMC Spirit 81 Pontiac Safari 81 Buick LeSabre 81 Chev Impala 81 Cadillac Eldorado 81 Olds 98 ' 82 Chev Cavalier 82 Dodge D50 83 Buick LeSabre 83 Pontiac Acadian 84 Chev Camaro 85 Chev Pk DB15A 795311 411A 803A 230AA '417A 463A 195AA 828691 891 A 211A 843332 435A Price 2,295 1,1995 5,388 5,780 3,495 9,895 6,895 3,995 3,995 9,295 2,995 8,995 9,995 86 Chev Caprice 270A 14,159 86 Pontiac Firebird 859212 13,295 exeter 586 Main St., Exeter n.ommiw 235-0660 Parlour: Open daily 12 noon - 7 p.m. Hwy. 21 1 Mile South of Main Intersection 238.8006 (rand Bend