The Citizen, 2015-02-26, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2015.
Morris-Turnberry sets total tax cap at 2.7%
Morris-Turnberry Council has set
a cap on a total tax increase of 2.7
per cent in the municipality for this
year.
The decision came after a short
budget meeting on Feb. 19 in which
council debated the final changes to
the draft document which will be
presented at a public meeting on
Tuesday, March 17.
While an exact increase cannot yet
be stated, the draft budget includes a
municipal tax rate increase of 7.25
per cent and a county tax rate of
two per cent. The educational
portion of the budget has yet to be
finalized.
Highlights of the budget include
collection from assessment being
approximately 10 per cent higher
than previous years and major
expenses in the roads and public
works budgets.
In a recorded vote to approve the
budget and proceed with a maximum
2.7 per cent increase in the tax rate,
all councillors voted in favour except
for Deputy-Reeve Jamie Heffer and
Councillor Dorothy Kelly.
While Heffer hadn’t voiced any
specific concerns with the presented
budget, Kelly had said she didn’t
like the increase or the fact that so
many capital projects were being
approved in the roads budget.
“I think that is a lot,” she said.
Her fellow councillors, however,
disagreed.
Councillor John Smuck said 2.7
per cent is minimal compared to
other municipalities and Councillor
Jim Nelemans said the cost of living
adjustment was about that amount so
he felt it worked.
“I think people will accept 2.7 per
cent,” he said.
Kelly, however, wasn’t satisfied
and stated she wanted some changes.
“I’m wondering if we need all that
equipment – the snow plow, the
tractor and the lawn mower – in the
roads budget this year,” she said.
“I’m wondering if we could put half
the money from the snow plow in
this year and do the same next year.”
The overall roads budget went up
approximately 10 per cent from
2014, though much of that was due
to construction on St. Michael’s
Road according to staff.
Mayor Paul Gowing stated he felt
it wasn’t a good idea to put off the
capital expenses.
“Is it not better to do this now
when we know what our expenses
are?” he asked. “I don’t know what
the expenses are going to be next
year, so if we do this now, we won’t
have to worry about it next year or
for several years to come.”
Heffer agreed, stating it is best to
handle major expenditures when,
thanks to an increased assessment,
the municipality was able to avoid
large increases that had been seen in
neighbouring municipalities.
He also said some of the
equipment had been delayed for
several years so now was the time to
approve the contract.
Kelly, however, was still
dissatisfied with the answer saying
her assessment had risen
substantially and she didn’t want to
see more of an increase in the tax
rate than necessary on top of that
assessment increase.
While the tax rate increase may
fall if the education rate comes in
less than expected, Michie explained
there would be an increase of
approximately $82 per $100,000 of
assessment with the 2.7 per cent
proposed tax increase.
Overall, the 2015 budget is
estimated to include $8,061,035.67
in expenses at the municipal level
with approximately $2,500,000 in
Huron County and education taxes
yet to be included in the budget.
Major expenses include municipal
drain work which is set at
$,1503,571.61 which marks a
$1,290,066.55 increase (some of
which will be recovered through
assessment), waste disposal of
$385,070 which marks a $35,864.46
increase from 2014, the roads
budget, which is set at $3,321,000, a
$689,331.03 increase from 2014, the
Brussels sewer project which will
cost $155,000 and police servicing
which will cost $321,526 or $36,130
more than it did in 2014.
TIPS
to Reduce
YOUR
WASTE
Space provided through a partnership between industry and Ontario municipalities to support waste diversion programs
P.O. Box 90, 274 Josephine Street, Wingham, Ontario N0G 2W0
Phone: 519-357-3550 Fax: 519-357-1110
In 2009, the Province of Ontario launched
the Used Tire Stewardship Program, to
divert tires away from burning or landfilling.
The program eliminates the disposal fees
that consumers used to pay to get rid of
their old tires. You may now recycle your old
tires by dropping them off at a registered
collector near you. Visit www.ontariots.ca
for the closest location.
Used tires
• Purchase items with minimal
packaging and/or write to
manufacturers asking for
packaging that is less
wasteful.
• When possible, buy refillable
or reusable containers.
• Bring your own bags when
you shop and try to buy
in bulk.
• Purchase for durability and
quality rather than for
disposable items that are
convenient.
• Detox your home by using
cleaning products that are
less harmful to the environment.
• Reuse items or donate them to a
neighbour, friend or non-profit
charity.
• Recycle and compost accepted
items in your municipal program.
Electronic waste
To divert potentially hazardous
materials from our landfills, Ontario
Electronic Stewardship (OES)
manages a program that
encourages reuse, recycling, and
proper disposal of unwanted
electronic equipment. Materials
such as computers, audio-visual
devices, cameras, printers,
scanners, and televisions are accepted. For a complete list of
materials, and for drop-off locations, visit www.northhuron.ca.
* Dedicated loads of electronic waste are accepted at the Wingham Landfill site
with disposal free to all Township of North Huron residents.
A warm meal on a cold day
Sure, it was chilly and, sure, maybe some cars wouldn’t start but that wasn’t about to keep
diners from getting to St. John’s Anglican Church in Brussels on Tuesday, Feb. 17 to enjoy
some pancakes before they decided what to give up for Lent. (Denny Scott photo)
By Denny Scott
The Citizen