Hub Staff
Council worked together on Saugeen Shores’ Capital and Operations budget during the rescheduled 2016 budget meeting January 20 in council chambers. The partially approved budget is still awaiting further approval to take place at the January 25 council meeting, but will result in a small increase to municipal taxes for Saugeen Shores.
After deferring many items to be reviewed again in 2017; and after council dipping into the Tax Stabilization Fund (TSF) - an operating or capital surplus fund - the Municipal Levy sits at 6.65 percent with a blended rate of 4.3 percent. This will result in a tax increase per average household (current average household is assessed at $282,000) of $126.56 or from $2,934 to $3,061 per year. These rates can go up or down pending approval or deferral of a Geographical Information System (GIS), to be looked at at the next council meeting.
The proposed GIS position was pushed back by the request of Deputy Mayor Luke Charbonneau, who had hoped to lower the final rates from where they stood before council dipped into the TSF to a blended rate of 4 percent.
“I think if we eliminated this GIS position that will get us to that range, a range that I’ll be comfortable with,” said Charbonneau before final motions were carried, adding that they’ve “been hammered by the loss of support from the province.”
“We need to increase our capital spending on the tax side because we’re not going to get support from the province until we do,” said Charbonneau. “I’m fully prepared to accept that.”
Councillor Mike Myatt was positive and thought that council will get a lot done this year, even though funding into the Community Improvement Plan (CIP) budget, a project in which he was interested, was not passed by council.
“I think we’ve done our very best here tonight. We’ve increased our contribution to reserve by close to $200,000, created new positions, four blocks of Bruce Street being done, two accessible washrooms, close to $100,000 in repairs to town hall (Southampton),” Myatt said.
Council approved drawings to begin on the new placement of the public pool in Port Elgin, to be located near the Plex; funding for the proposed Trolley service between Port Elgin and Southampton and developed new town staff positions.
Parks and playground equipment did not see any funding for the year as many requests for new equipment, along with a new pad in Jubilee Park in Southampton for activities such as basketball and pickleball, were deferred until 2017 budget talks.
Here is what was passed in the Capital Budget:
• Steps toward a new public pool, with council approving $150,000 for drawings of a facility that is to be located adjacent to the Plex.
• Funding for a previously used fire truck pumper to be added to the fleet.
• The Asphalt Resurfacing Fund was decreased from $75,000 to $50,000.
• A Bruce Street project was reduced from seven blocks to four, with the proposed budget then going from $1,600,000 to $1,014,000, with work featuring new sidewalks, storm trunk sewers, sanitary sewer replacement and watermain replacement.
• The dredging of the Port Elgin Town Pond was passed with a cost of $8,000. The accumulating of sediment sludge has increased water temperature, making it difficult for stocking. Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority have seen the site and indicated that a permit could potentially be approved if a majority of the dredging is done on the southwest side.
• George Marion Park will receive money for irrigation and landscaping projects.
• The Chesley Street building in Southampton will receive $25,000 in accessibility upgrades.
• The Long Dock washroom at Gerry’s Fries in Southampton will receive $5,000 for a replacement roof.
• The Port Elgin Harbour’s washroom and fish cleaning station will receive $6,500 toward addressing author door openers and issues with the entrance.
• Funds of over $17,000 will go toward a Strategic Harbour Plan in hopes of providing staff and Council with an analysis of trends in boating as they apply to Port Elgin Harbour; competitive and comparable marinas, current seasonal/transient boaters, operational review of harbour, assessment of infrastructure, identifing new partnerships and revenue sources, financial projections over 10 years, development plan and capital estimate.
• The Coliseum in Southampton will receive $5,000 toward the replacement of its existing scoreboard; as well as approximately $7,000 from the Facility Reserve for electrical upgrades.
• Port Elgin Beach Emmett McGrath Pavilion will receive $5,000 toward underside roof repairs and paint.
What was passed in the Operation Budget:
• New town jobs: a Community Development Officer position was approved by council. Also approved were jobs that focused on Economical Development, Marketing and Communication as well as Health and Safety. These new positions followed recommendations to The Economic Development Advisory Committee to focus on development as well as dedicated in-house support for business attractions and economic development in town.
• The town is also looking to hire a Parks Manager. Staff is proposing to split the existing Parks & Facilities Supervisor position into a Parks Manager and a Facilities Manager, each reporting to the Director. This change would allow for increased opportunities for project management, capital commitments, horticultural and maintenance of parks and facilities. Full cost of the Parks Manager position would be partially offset in 2016 due to the reduction in wages that would occur. Total wage approved during the budget meeting was $32,000 including benefits.
• The tourist Trolley, a joint project between the Saugeen Shores Chamber of Commerce and the Business Improvement Association will receive $30,000 toward operating deficits and additional costs for developing trolley stops as well as ongoing cleaning and maintenance.
• Funding was awarded to the Municipal Heritage Committee’s request for $7,800 for the enhancement of heritage buildings, cultural traditions and activities leading up to Canada's 150th in 2017. The funds came from the Tax Stabilization Reserve.
• The Canada 150th Planning Committee requested $20,000, $12,000 of which was for a part-time coordinator whose duties would include: writing grants, depositing monies, booking bands and entertainment; and the remaining $8,000 for entertainment, equipment and catering if possible.
• The creation of a Fire Fighter Wellness Program will see $5,000 for programming.
• An increase of $90,000 to the Bridge Reserve was denied by council but was still passed with a decrease in the amount of $50,000. Councillor Dave Myette was strongly against the decrease, as neglected bridge repairs could negatively affect those working in agriculture.
• Waterfront personnel was approved for one lead and two students during the summer months to maintain Port Elgin Main Beach. Due to the reduction in heavy machinery in that area because of the impact to the endangered Piping Plover, the new labour cost to maintain the beach will be $35,000.
• The fight against the Emerald Ash Borer received funding of $55,000.
• The Saugeen Rail Trail Association will see a 100 percent increase in funding, resulting in the group receiving $15,000, for trail maintenance and upgrades.
• The Police Service Board reduced their budget by $10,000.
