The Citizen, 2016-12-22, Page 37clUishing jou J
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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016. PAGE 37.
Blumhagen proposes 1.67 per cent tax increase
Continued from page 1
levy increase of 4.06 per cent.
As far as the assessment increases
are concerned, Blumhagen said,
councillors need to be aware of the
extreme growth that has occurred in
farmland assessment and the
increased burden on those residents.
Because of the shift, he said, rural
residents will be supporting the
county and its services more than
they have in past years.
With ongoing staffing pressures in
a budget in which more than half
goes to salaries, Blumhagen said it's
important to limit salary increases.
"In respect of council's desire to
limit staff salary increases we have
reduced non-union salary increases
to 1.5 per cent for 2017. Staff will
strive [to ensure] that future union
settlements will fall in-line within
this amount," he said in his report.
"The 1.5 per cent is in line with
current 2016 CPI rates for Canada,
however, falling short of the Ontario
CPI rates of approximately 2.1 per
cent. Union salaries continue to
cause pressures and many
settlements are coming in at higher
than targets due to arbitrated
settlements. The non-union salaries
are being decreased from two per
cent in 2016 in an effort to mitigate
overall budget increases"
An expected pressure in the
budget, Blumhagen said, has
historically been grants, although in
the 2017 budget the only grant
currently included is $60,000 to the
Huron County Food Bank
Distribution Centre. Blumhagen said
that with significant funding
promised to the 2017 IPM, staff is
recommending that no additional
grants be approved in the 2017
budget. With this in mind, he said, he
hoped to decrease the budget for
unforeseen costs (from which grants
would normally be funded) from
$100,000 to $25,000.
He added that a number of
departments, including public
works, social services and planning
and information technology are all
facing more significant pressures in
the coming years, which has served
to make the budget process even
more difficult.
While the budget year in 2017 will
be challenging, Blumhagen told
council that the county is currently
in a surplus position of between $1
million and $1.4 million, which is
still subject to year-end adjustments.
Council will thoroughly discuss
the 2017 budget at a special budget
deliberation session set for
Thursday, Dec. 19.
A Christmas jam session
The former Duff's United Church building has found a second life with new owners Al
Richardson and Trish Uniac, who opened the space to the community on Sunday afternoon
for a special Christmas jam session. Local musicians like Jim Lee and others were on hand
to partake, while above, Ron Howatt, left, and Sean Mitchell pumped out some Christmas
tunes on their fiddles. (Denny Scott photo)
G2G funding to be re -allocated
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
An original allocation of $50,000
to the Goderich-to-Guelph (G2G)
Rail Trail will now be re-routed to
Regional Tourism Organization 4
(RTO 4) for infrastructure
development along the trail.
At Huron County Council's Dec.
14 committee of the whole meeting,
Economic Development Manager
Natasha Fritzley outlined the details
of the new goal for the funding with
RTO 4. The funding, which was
originally approved for the Ontario
Municipal Cycling Infrastructure
Program, will now go to RTO 4,
which will focus on building
infrastructure such as bridges along
the still -developing trail that runs
through Auburn, Blyth and Walton.
#1 And We
Still Try Harder
Recent circulation figures
show The Citizen has the
highest circulation in the
northern part of
Huron County,
#3 in the entire county.
The Citizen
Proudly Community -Owned
Since 1985
RTO 4 will also match the
contribution of the county, meaning
that the county has the opportunity
for 50 -cent dollars on its $50,000
investment.
Council approved the re -allocation
of funds, which had initially been
approved in February, 2016 with
$16,000 being set aside in reserves
and $34,000 being paid from the
provisions for unforeseen account in
last year's budget.
WARM WISHES FORA
HAPPY AND HEALTHY
HOLIDAY SEASON
Please be advised that our Wingham office will be closed
December 24, 2016 and will reopen on January 3, 2017.
People who know, know BDO.sM
Assurance 1 Accounting 1 Tax 1 Advisory
47 Alfred St W, Wingham
519 357 3231
www.bdo.ca
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offered for 2017.
IP premiums up to $2.75 per bushel.
Visit www.snobelenfarms.com for details
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