By Stephen Vance, Staff
The first draft of the 2016 municipal budget was presented to Meaford’s council at a special meeting on October 13.
In keeping with the previously expressed desires of council, the draft budget includes an increase in the tax-supported operating budget of less than two percent. The initial increase in the base budget presented to council is 1.25 percent, leaving council with approximately $90,000 wiggle room for extras if they are to stay below a 2 percent increase by the time they approve the final budget in December.
Deputy Mayor, Harley Greenfield told council that Grey County is currently projecting a 2.4 percent increase in their levy, though he noted that it is very early in the budget process, and that number is likely to change.
At the September 14 council meeting, Director/Treasurer Darcy Chapman recommended a 2.5 percent increase, however Mayor Barb Clumpus, noting the $233,000 saved from the elimination of the Director of Operations and the Purchasing Agent positions on September 10, combined with the $19,000 in annual savings to come from the LED light conversion approved by council earlier that day, challenged staff to prepare a budget with a smaller increase.
“I would like to challenge staff. You’ve come in with a 1.5 percent increase suggested for the operating budget, and while that’s admirable, and certainly appreciated, given our past history, and the way that increases have come forward, I’d like to challenge that to one percent increase in the operating budget to see what that would look like,” suggested Clumpus, who found the support of council to direct staff to develop a budget with a one percent increase dedicated to infrastructure, plus a one percent increase in the overall operating budget.
At the October 13 meeting, Chapman told council that the priority for funding efforts in 2016 will be focused on infrastructure, particularly roads and bridges.
“Our priority is to continue to address our infrastructure deficit,” Chapman told council.
The draft budget includes a 1.5 percent cost of living increase for municipal staff, which if it holds through to the final budget approval, will add $63,300 to municipal staff salary costs in 2016. Meaford currently has 59 full time employees, and another 20.1 full time equivalent part time and seasonal staff, along with one contract employee for a total full time equivalent staff compliment of 80.7 employees.
Chapman included a pie chart in his presentation to council that breaks down the allocation of tax dollars. The largest portion of the budget is consumed by the Financial Services and Infrastructure Management department at 29.8 percent, followed by Legislative and Protective Services at 23.3 percent. Parks, Recreations and Culture accounts for slightly more than 10 percent of tax dollar allocations, while the Library accounts for 4.3 percent. Development and Environmental Services uses 8.3 percent of the municipal tax dollars.
Over the coming weeks, councillors will delve into the finer details of the budget as they work toward the target approval date of December 14.
A council Q & A session will be held on October 26, followed by two public engagement sessions (November 9 at the council chambers, and November 16 at the Annan Trinity United Church), as well as a mandatory public meeting prior to council voting on the 2016 budget. The public meeting will be held at Bognor Hall on December 7, and council plans to approve a budget for 2016 at their December 14 council meeting.
All budget documents are available on the municipal website (meaford.ca)
