Clearview goes to public with 4.3% tax increase for 2016
The 2016 Clearview Township budget going to a public meeting for input from residents on Dec. 7 will reflect a 4.33 per cent increase.
Treasurer Edward Henley estimates once the county and education taxes are incorporated, taxpayers will see the overall increase come in at 2.08 per cent or lower. A person with a home valued at $258,340 – the median in Clearview – is facing an estimated increase of $60 in 2016.
Councillors debated the budget at a workshop Monday afternoon. They made some revisions to lower the tax increase, which staff had already reduced to 4.65 per cent from the original 5.68 per cent.
The budget totals $44 million, including $24.1 million in the operating expenses and $19.9 million in the capital spending.
Councillor Thom Paterson wanted to see the increase reduced to 3.5 per cent but couldn’t get enough support from other councillors to pass a motion.
“I can see almost $200,000 that can be taken out,” he said. “I propose we set a 3.5 per cent upset tax limit for at least two years.”
He said the township is seeing a less than two per cent growth rate so the budget should reflect that.
“What determinates do we have to say this is a fair amount?”
CAO Steve Sage said, from a staff perspective, a proposed economic development officer ($43,300 in wages and benefits for one half year) and a new transit system linking Stayner to Collingwood and Wasaga Beach ($60,125 to expand the inter-community bus service to year-round operations, taking into account an estimated $12,375 in revenue) are the added services in the 2016 budget.
Councillor Deborah Bronée said she is not in favour of arbitrarily looking for cuts.
“We should be putting money into bridges and arenas,” she said. “Unless we want to cut services somewhere, close an arena or a community hall, we are just taking out money that should be spent somewhere else… Council has to direct how we want to fund this township with clear guidance from staff.”
“It’s no secret, our problem is not how we are spending. It’s lack of income,” said Deputy Mayor Barry Burton. “Without dipping into reserves there’s no way to lower the budget, from what staff is saying.”
The township received a higher than expected grant through the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund in the amount of $1,310,000, an increase of $175,200, helping to offset operating costs.
“It would be ludicrous for any department not to run efficiently because they know this discussion is going to happen every year,” said Councillor Shawn Davidson. “We could make up $125,000 by increasing fees, cutting library hours or closing a branch. We are not going to do that because it just isn’t the responsible thing to do.”
Council also directed staff to move $30,737 from an unallocated reserve to a community halls fund and $25,000 to an accessibility fund; $30,000 is being earmarked for economic development initiatives; $36,628 will be added to this year’s budget to extend the communications position filled last year to a full year and $3,164 for expanded library staffing.
The budget will be presented to the public on Dec. 7 at town hall in Stayner beginning at 6:30 p.m.
