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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1989-05-09, Page 1FIRST SECTIOIOT �srrgham, Orta o, Tuesday, May 9,1989 S ngle Copy NO Town council approves $2 million budget for 1989 Wingham Town Council has approved a 1989 operating budget totalling almost $2.1 million dollars. At its regular May meeting, council approved the $2,092,500 budget as recommended by the finance and management commit- tee in the report of chairman, Coun- cillor Ward Robertson. In presenting the budget, Mr. Robertson said it reflected Wing - ham, "a growing community and a community on the move." Preparing a budget can be an extremely frustrating exercise, he said, because of items such as edu- cation- and county demands over which town council has no control. "But it's not with any trepidation that I present this year's budget fig- ures," he said. The largest share of revenue will be collected in this year's municipal tax bills and will bring $1,074,200 into town coffers. The second largest share of revenue comes from roads and provincial grants, about $495,000. County grants are expected to provide $40,000 in revenue, ONIP grants another 15,000, Ontario Housing Corporation grants an additional $22,000, Bell Canada $33,000, and other grants -in lieu of taxation total $20,300. Recreation program income is budgeted at $53,000 while income from recreation facilities has been set at $57,500. Sewer collection will produce another $60,000 inrevenue while land sales are expected to bring in $60,000. Supplementary taxes, interest, rents, licences and permits, and fines will also contribute rev- enue. Also included on the revenue side of the budget sheet is a $75,000 'surplus from 19 According to Clerk -Treasurer Byron Adams, there is no single large -ticket item that contributed to the surplus, but rather a culmina- tion of overall savings realized dur- ing the year. In expenditures, the budget for each department is: council, $48,300; administration, $193,700; property, $244,700; fire, $81,700; police, $364,100; public works, $671,600; recreation (program), $102,500; recreation (facilities), (Continued on Page 2A) Wingham property taxes increase 7.4-8.8 per cent Tax bills in the Town of Wingham will increase between 7.4 and 8.8 per cent this year as ratepayers have been hit by higher budgets from all four agencies that use the municipal tax bill to collect rev- enue. At its regular May meeting, Wingham Town Council approved its 1989 operating budget of $2,092,500, and passed a bylaw set- ting the mill rates for general (town), county and the two boards of education. The 1989 mill rate for a residen- tial public school supporter is 28.606 while the residential sepa- rate school mill rate is 29.150. Com-. mcrcial, industrial and business mill rates are 33.653 (public) and 34.293 (separate). A breakdown of the total residen- tial mill rate shows that 15.511 is for town purposes, 4.383 for public sec- ondary school purposes (4.879 sep- arate secondary), 5385 for public elementary school purposes (5.633 for separate elementary), and 3.127 for county purposes. MR- commercial,.i4.cj1Wr,,a14n hnsiness thin rate consists of 18148 for general purposes, 5.1;56 for pub- lic secondary (5.740 separate sec ondary), 6.571 for public elemen- tary (6.627 for separate elementary), and 3.678 for county purposes. In Wingham, the average resi- dential public school supporter with a $40,000 assessment will pay $1,144.24 in taxes this year. Of that amount, 54 per cent, or $617.89, is used for town purposes; the Huron County Board of Educa- tion gets $400.48_ or 'Ati near e't 30th ANNIVERSARY Students at Wingham Public School helped of Huron County o mark the 30th anniversary the r3 Board of Education recently with a special assembly. On hand to take part in the as- sembly were two former principals.. Above, former principal Stewart Be the young students while current principal . Bruce° R berms do f rtd foreiier ttie cj alwelcomed by one k , p rtpal John rM� lc►ok on. while the County of Huron will receive $125.87, or 11 per cent. For the public school supporter with the same asessment, the tax bill this year will be $1,166• Follow- ing the same breakdown, the total is divided as follows:. neral pur- OS-.eS, 6 4 ! 5 .:.r cent;.. Duron PerthRoman acholic Sepa- rate Shbo1 Board, 36 per cent or $419.76; and County of Huron, 128.26 or 11 per cent. Increase in town water charge is recommended The Wingham Public Utilities Commission has recommended an increase in water and sewer rates for the Town of Wingham. The recommendation to increase the rates, by 7.7 per cent, will be put forward at the June meeting of town council for its approval. Wider the proposal the average householder could expect to pay $7 per month for water, an increase of 50 cents over the current rate. The sewer rate would increase to $5.95 per month, from $5.53. PUC Chairman Roy Bennett pointed out there has been no increase in water rates since 1985. Last year, the utility's water side showed a deficit of $43,435 due, to some extent, to work conducted on the water tower. The increase will generate an estimated $15,000 in revenue, said Manager Ken Saxton. The increase, if it is approved, will come into effect for the July 1 billing. Town council names streets Oak and Pine are the names of the two streets in Wiingham's industrial park in the north end. At its regular May meeting, Wingham Town Council approved a works committee recommenda- tion to name the two streets which, when developed, will provide access to the industrial park from N* .1• Strut .and . EvinCdar Stamt.. ... o.a.e Editorials ••.. 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