The Citizen, 2018-5-31, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2018.
13.03 per cent spending increase approved in NH
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
After being derailed by a higher -
than -anticipated police budget,
North Huron has finally passed a
budget for 2018, just shy of five
months into the year.
As a result of several late
increases, including the Wingham
Police Service's budget, North
Huron is looking at an overall
spending increase of 13.03 per cent
or $637,159.93 over last year.
In total, the municipality's budget
includes $15,324,611.93 in
expenses.
The budget was passed during
North Huron's May 22 meeting after
a final police budget was presented
and accepted by council.
Included in the budget is
$1,427,265 in expenses area -rated to
Wingham ratepayers, $1.3 million
of which covers police costs while
the rest goes to streetlighting.
Blyth's area -rated expenses for
ratepayers total $210,525 between
OPP policing ($167,837) and
streetlights and East Wawanosh
residents pay $145,018 for OPP
policing.
Presented by Director of Finance
Donna White, the budget includes
$1.76 million in capital expenses,
the most significant of which are the
second phase of work on Arthur
Street with sewer work costing
$64,841 and water costing $186,973,
The start of something big
The Ontario West Regional Dog Agility Championship was held at the Regional Equine and
Agricultural Centre of Huron (REACH) in Clinton over the weekend. (Quinn Talbot photo)
Vodden says delaying
expenses irresponsible
Continued from page 1
Service budget increase by 19.92 per
cent to $1,664,627.
Aside from the four per cent
increase in existing officer wages
and the full complement of five new
recruits, the 2019 budget includes
the purchase of a new cruiser at
$41,000 and the salary for the new
chief as Poole will be retiring in
April.
The 2020 budget, which was
forecast using a two per cent cost of
living adjustment over 2019, as the
existing contract with the Wingham
Police Association ends at the end of
next year, will see the cost of the
service increase an additional 10.67
per cent to $1.842 million.
Seip further explained that even
the hiring of recruits over
experienced officers would only
represent ephemeral savings.
Seip stated recruits would start at
$58,000 a year and receive a 59 per
cent increase within two years to
$98,000, however Police Chief
Tim Poole later explained to
The Citizen that those numbers
weren't correct.
Poole said that after two years,
officer salaries, under the current
contract between the Wingham
Police Services Board and the
Wingham Police Association, would
increase to $78,186. The current
contract ends Dec. 31, 2019, so any
pay increases beyond then could not
be confirmed, however Poole said
that, under the existing agreement,
officers who have served for four
years would be receiving the wage
Seip mentioned.
Chief Administrative Officer
Dwayne Evans explained that
council could ask questions and
make statements but, as the police
services board is an arm's-length
committee, council could not dictate
changing the budget beyond asking
for an overall reduction, increase or
setting a goal for the police services
board to work towards.
While the police service board had
said, during an earlier meeting, that
they didn't see any other potential
savings, Evans said council could
send the budget back as often as
needed until one side of the debate
called for arbitration by the Ontario
Civilian Policing Commission.
Evans explained that the result of
the arbitration was binding,
regardless of which side the
committee felt was right.
After council approved the budget,
which allowed them to adopt the
municipality's 2018 budget in its
entirety, individual council members
had concerns with the budget, the
process and the police services
board's action.
Councillor Brock Vodden spoke
first, saying that, for 20 years,
Wingham ratepayers have stood by
their police department.
"Six of our present council
members approved the retention of
the Wingham Police Service," he
said. "We assumed the Wingham
community wants to keep their force
regardless of the cost."
Vodden said it was "irresponsible"
of the police services board to
present a budget where overages are
pushed into the future. He said he
anticipated a changing attitude
among Wingham ratepayers once
news of the forecasted 20 and 10 per
cent increases are proposed in 2019
and 2020, respectively.
Reeve Neil Vincent said Vodden's
comments were "rehashing a
previous decision" of council and
said he wanted to avoid that, trying
to direct conversation to either
passing or defeating the proposed
police budget.
While council did approve the
budget, Councillor Bill Knott
immediately moved that the issue
of OPP policing be revisited in light
of the information presented to
council.
The motion was passed by
Wingham ward Councillor Yolanda
Ritsema-Teeninga and passed after
council was assured the 2018 budget
process could continue with the
existing budget in place.
work on the North Huron Wescast
Community Complex roof to repair
leaks at $113,000, Memorial Hall
renovation commitment costing
$154,590 and the streetlight LED
conversion project at $421,508.
The latter, however, will be funded
through a loan, paid back over the
next several years by the savings the
LED lights are forecast to provide
on both maintenance and electricity.
The project should have no impact
on the budget.
White explained the budget will
likely result in increases for every
ratepayer in the municipality on top
of potential assessment increases.
Using an example of a residential
property in each ward assessed at
$200,000, White said Wingham
would have an annual $277 (7.18 per
cent) increase, Blyth an $86 (2.58
per cent) increase and East
Wawanosh a (2.06 per cent) $63.43
increase.
White examined specific examples
in the Wingham Ward, showing that,
as a result of the Wingham Police
Service's budget dropping
significantly, increases would be far
less than originally anticipated.
On a residential home with an
assessment that had gone up 3.19 per
cent, increasing the home's value to
$178,000, White had originally
anticipated a tax increase of
$498.21. With the reduced police
budget, that same property will
instead see an increase of $310.49.
A second residential example of a
home that is valued at $305,500 after
a 0.41 per cent assessment increase,
had an original estimated tax
increase of $695.16. That property,
with the reduced police budget, will
only be looking at a $372.97
increase.
The final example, a commercial
property which had an assessment
increase of 1.13 per cent to
$825,000, originally saw an increase
of $2,225.90 in taxes. That same
property under the new budget will
see an increase of $1,268.82.
After the budget passed,
Councillor Trevor Seip said that he
felt council needs to approach the
budget process differently in the
future.
"My suggestion is, look at what
the municipality [needs] the taxes to
be... and work backwards from
there," he said. "If we work
backwards and say we only have $15
million to spend, then start
prioritizing, things will have to go"
He said that's how council
members likely handle their personal
finances and it will illustrate what
services are needed and what
services and expenses may not be.
He went on to say that council may
not have made the best decisions
"for the municipality as a whole"
and that they needed to do better in
the future.
UILDING
With LOGS
Revised &Expanded
the COMPLETE BOOK of YE uu
BUILDING WITH LOGS
Log homes were among the
earliest structures erected by
settlers but they are still popular
and oh so beautiful. This
comprehensive book shows you
how to build your own log
structure with the latest advances
in comfort and utility. $24.95
Small -Batch
Preserving SMALL BATCH
PRESERVING
Over 300 recipes
plus a primer on the
art and science of
making preserves
safely at home.
Recipes to make all
year round. $19.95
Owa KA lelutats
1-(OMEMADE
h(AND JOIE—DOWNS
BlTHE
ack-
Smith's
CRAFT
A Primer of Tools & Methods
HOW TO RETIRE HAPPY,
WILD AND FREE
Here's retirement wisdom
you won't get from your
financial investor by the
author of The Joy of Not
Working. Information about
more than just financial
security. $22.95
BUILDING
RAISED BEDS
Ees,. Accessible semen scare
far Ve,eKbles and Flowers
HOMEMADE & HAND-ME-DOWNS
Arnold Mathers' stories have been
entertaining Rural Voice readers for years.
This new collection of 46 stories includes
17 which haven't been published in
previous books. Mathers sees the humour
in the way we were. $28.00
THE BLACKSMITH'S CRAFT
Blacksmithing is a romantic and practical
skill and it still has many applications
today. This comprehensive book is a
primer of the tools and methods of the
blacksmith and provides tips on how to
make this skill pay. $24.95
THE FAMILY BUTTERFLY
BOOK
Love butterflies? This
book's for you. How to
attract butterflies to your
garden, make butterfly
boxes and cages, identify
40 favourite North
American species, even
build your own butterfly
farm. $25.95
BUILDING RAISED BEDS:
Easy, Accessible Garden
Space for Vegetables and
Flowers
Whether you make your beds
with boards, cinder -blocks or
just heaped-up soil, expert
gardener Fern Marshall
Bradley will help you choose
the best site, build and plant
a garden. $13.95
1+I-V°E
MANAGEMENT
HIVE MANAGEMENT:
A Seasonal Guide for
Beekeepers
The importance of bees
in pollinating crops has
become more
recognized in recent
years. Beekeeping can
also be a source of
additional income. This
book can guide your
management. $19.95
THE HANDMADE MARKETPLACE:
How to Sell Your Crafts Locally,
Globally and Online
Kari Chapin has worked in marketing
and publicity and managed a retail store
selling artisan goods. Now she helps
crafters sell their goods with this
manual. $22.95
HANDMADE
MARKET P9.AGc
�\/ SELL °
Yaua CW13
LOCALLY.
GLOBALLY.
ONLINE
BY KARI CAA,.
See our great selection of books at...
413 Queen St., Blyth Th 541 Turnberry St., Brussels
519-523-4792Ttie Citizen 519-887-9114